In the 1950s and 60s, timber yards and sawmills were common sights in Hong Kong, the industry feeding construction, shipbuilding and furniture making. “The timber industry was flourishing back then,” says Penelope Luk, creative director of Crafts on Peel, a charitable organisation that helps revive traditional crafts. “ There were many timber yards – even Whampoa Garden was a shipbuilding yard where timber was processed,” she says, referring to the private housing estate in Hung Hom, Kowloon built on land reclaimed from Whampoa Dock, which operated from the 1860s until 1984. “I don’t think many people know that about the city’s past.” Luk says the industry suffered when Hong Kong’s “economic paradigm shifted to finance and tourism”. Other factors that led to the decline of timber yards included a flood of cheap imported furniture and a shift in manufacturing to mainland China. Today, however, the timber trade is showing signs of a revival , says Luk, sparked by 2018’s Typhoon Mangkhut, which saw 7,000 tonnes of timber – that’s 5,500 truckloads – from trees felled by the storm end up in landfills. “People started asking why wood that was filling landfills was not being reused,” she says. To celebrate this new wave, Luk has co-curated “Stories Encapsulated: Wood”, an exhibition of work by traditional craftsmen and contemporary artisans at Crafts on Peel, in Central, that runs until May 21. One man’s quest to preserve China’s ancient wooden Hui buildings “The exhibition features nine collaborative works, from small decorative objects and carvings to furniture pieces and wooden structures that showcase the unique styles, techniques and heritage of woodcrafting in Hong Kong ,” says Luk. Twenty artists have been involved with the project, which highlights the use of mortise and tenon joints, which date back 7,000 years. “No glue, screws or machines, or expensive materials have been used – we want the audience to appreciate the wisdom and craftsmanship used to make these pieces,” she says. “Wood is a gift from nature; it is a tactile, living material,” Luk says. “These objects are not just an extension of a tree’s life but also manifestations of the relationship with the craftsmen who give the objects a soul. This exhibition tells each craftsman’s story and their emotional connection to the objects they have created.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crafts on Peel (@crafts_on_peel_hk) Co-curator Ken Chow, a carpenter and founder of Hong Kong’s Yat Muk Studio, wants the public to appreciate the hard work and perseverance behind the pieces. “With this exhibition,” says Chow, “we want to connect Hong Kong craftsmen from different fields and explore the possibilities of the material, as well as exchange and learn new techniques and skills.” Visit craftsonpeel.com for more details