Street Talk: Jino Yeung
Take a glimpse into the lives of Hongkongers living in Tai Kok Tsui. A new large-scale exhibition uses interactive, life-sized fotomos (3D scenes crafted from photographs and illustrations) so that visitors can stroll through replicas of storefronts and read the personal stories of local residents. The exhibition’s creator, Jino Yeung, talks to Sandy Ho about her passion for the area’s culture and history.
HK Magazine: Why did you pick Tai Kok Tsui as the focus for your exhibition?
Jino Yeung: It was fate! I used to share a small office space in Tai Kok Tsui with some colleagues. I had zero knowledge of the area when I first moved in—the place was heavily congested with traffic and people cluttered the streets. However, after a year there, I came to appreciate my surroundings. Unlike Mong Kok, where people would go to shop, the people on the streets of Tai Kok Tsui are usually local residents. The people are united in their neighborhood, and they basically have everything they need there.
HK: What are you trying to capture and document with this exhibition?
JY: Development will start to displace the old shops that were built generations ago, and I want to document them before they’re all gone. Walk along the streets, and you’ll see old businesses that datedback to the 70s. It’s such a warm feeling—something I tried to capture in my work. It is interesting to hear experiences and stories from local residents that were born and raised in Tai Kok Tsui, and I’ve come to love the history and culture of this area.
HK: Why did you choose to present your work in fotomos?
JY: We brainstormed different ways to present the story of Tai Kok Tsui. Illustrations and photography would definitely be the right type of medium for this project because they are in our areas of familiarity and strength. We focused on the personality of Tai Kok Tsui—messy but orderly—and decided to compose our illustrations and pictures in layers. Doing it this way, we can accentuate different objects by making them bigger. It is also important to choose the right color palettes for each space so we don’t lose the richness of the area.
HK: What kind of objects did you choose to emphasize?
JY: Since it’s mainly focused on the store owners’ stories, our illustrations include an image of the store owner along with some old-school elements, such as fluorescent lights and old air conditioners. We choose these objects in accordance with the type of store we are trying to depict. For example, for a BBQ meat shop, we would choose to emphasize the store name and the food normally displayed behind clear screens. I want the stores to be recognizable and relatable.
HK: Since a lot of old shops have closed down, did you come across any difficulties finding resources?
JY: Yes! This was a difficult task. We built great relationships with the residents of Tai Kok Tsui and they were a great help to me. Since I was not raised in Tai Kok Tsui, I relied mostly on stories that these old residents share. We also created a Facebook group so that residents of Tai Kok Tsui can share their stories and invite old residents that have moved away to join.
HK: Do you have plans for future projects?
JY: Publishing books was our first idea! We want to include the story of our journey at Tai Kok Tsui along with illustrations and pop-up art. However, I would love to continue “Stories of our Neighborhoods” for five other regions around Hong Kong.