Malcolm Morris: Stacking Stones
Every few days, 45-year-old Malcolm Morris wanders down to Lamma’s Power Station Beach and spends several hours stacking piles of stones into tall, artistic piles. He talks to June Ng about his unusual hobby.
HK Magazine: Why do you pile all these rocks up like this?
Malcolm Morris: I was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006, and underwent a bone marrow transplant the following year. When I was discharged from the hospital, my immunity was so weak that I couldn’t have any human company for fear that they would pass germs to me. I felt very depressed and I went down to the beach for some fresh air. I was so angry that I picked up rocks and threw them into the sea. It was tiring because I was very weak and had lost 20 kilograms. But gradually it became a form of exercise. Then I started to stack up a huge pile of stones. It took me nine months to complete and it ended up taller than me. Then, other people started stacking stones on top of my pile, and it inspired me to keep stacking stones.
HK: How do those stones stay up without any glue or external support?
MM: It’s all about balance, friction, and choosing the right stones. Smoother rocks are hard to balance while ones with a grainy surface are easier. It’s not actually that difficult to get a tall pile if you pick flat rocks with a rough surface.
HK: How long does it take for you to make a stone sculpture?
MM: It’s hard to say. Sometimes the weather gets windy, which makes it more difficult, but if I focus, I can get a small pile up in half an hour. The only large piece I ever did was my first one, but last year a typhoon swept everything away. In a way, it was a relief because I didn’t have to worry about how to keep adding to it. This is why I only do small sculptures now.
HK: Do you get upset when they collapse?
MM: I used to, but now I’m more chilled out about it. I don’t mind if it falls due to natural causes, but it upsets me when people knock them down. Some passersby think they make good targets and throw stones at them for fun.
HK: Do you ever blame God for your illness?
MM: I’m not a religious person, and if I were, I would become angry and ask God why he would treat me this way. But now I know it’s just about statistics: either you get it or someone else does. I’m just thankful that it wasn’t my daughter who had to go through it.
HK: What does the future hold for you?
MM: Only 30 percent of leukemia patients live more than five years after their transplant. I have set the goal for myself of being within this 30 percent by monitoring my diet and taking regular exercise. Hopefully, I can find a job that will allow me to work from home.