Tucked away in an alley in Hong Kong, this tiny 46 sq ft space plays a big part in the local arts scene
- Window and Alley began as an experiment to explore the use of small spaces in dense urban cities, and now sells products from a variety of local artists
- The founders wanted to show it was possible to do great things, even during the Hong Kong protests, politics, and Covid-19 pandemic
Him Lo stands outside Window and Alley, a 46 sq ft shop selling different Hong Kong-themed goods made by local artists. Photo: Nora TamThe intersection of a street between Wan Chai and Causeway Bay used to look like any other alley in Hong Kong: dark, dirty and forgotten. That was until Him Lo, 40, decided to turn the corner into something more visually pleasing and meaningful.
Inside the narrow, 46-sq-ft space sits Window and Alley, one of the smallest shops and most captivating shops in Hong Kong. It is a work of art on its own, and it casts a stark visual contrast against the streets of Causeway Bay.
The project started as an experiment to explore the use of small spaces. It is beautifully designed to accommodate the works of more than 100 Hong Kong artists and artisans. From homemade sourdough bagels made with Chinese traditional preserved fruits to hand-drawn recipes, the store has many facets of artistic expression all covered under one tiny roof.
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“People’s consumption habits have changed,” said Lo, one of the three founders. He added that many people work from home and shop online nowadays. It remains a question whether people are willing to go to physical stores.
“But since our products aren’t mass-produced, there are still many people who come to our store to check out what’s new or peculiar in their free time,” he continued.
Roaming around the city has always been a pastime for Lo and another co-founder, artist Samson Wong Yu-hin, who also started the YouTube channel, “When in doubt, take a walk”. The channel promotes the joy of strolling through the city’s nooks and alleys, appreciating the unique urban surroundings that, at first glance, appear mundane and inconsequential.
In fact, this is how Lo came across the alleyway around seven years ago. With the city battered by the triple whammy of politics, protests and the pandemic, Lo felt there was a sense of despair in society. He wanted to prove it was possible to do small but amazing things – such as opening a physical store in what seemed like the most impossible space and economic situation.
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“At the time, the whole city felt really dull, and people weren’t sure what they could do,” said Lo. “These days, it is harder to organise community programmes.”
Just three days before signing the lease on the store, both Lo and Wong were convinced that the idea wasn’t going to work. But he couldn’t shake the urge to try, and Lo eventually rented the space at the end of 2020 and opened the doors last May.
“Hopefully it can change people’s minds and show that some people haven’t given up yet,” he said. “We can do something for those who choose to stay in the city.”
Lo and his business partners pay HK$5,000 per month for rent and around HK$4,000 for part-time staff to man the store. Now, eight months after opening the shop, they are making just enough to cover operating expenses.
The artist also uses the tiny space to run a workshop called “City Record Workshop,” which encourages people from all walks of life to record the city’s past and present, from major happenings to everyday things they find interesting about life in the city, and gives them tips on how to better observe and describe these events.
“[It is] just like what a reporter does, but we encourage them to use different media such as text, photography, video or illustration,” Lo said. The workshop comprises four sessions, taught by Lo and a seasoned journalist from Hong Kong.
Their next step is to launch a mobile version of Window and Alley, so they can provide goods to the underprivileged at affordable prices. The mobile shop would go to districts like Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong and would offer different products than the ones found in the Causeway Bay store.
In addition, Lo has recently placed a truck at the Hong Kong Institute of Contemporary Culture Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity. Not only is it a space where students can make donations, but it also serves as an internship programme for the school. Lo uses it to bring students to art hubs like Central Market to experience first-hand what it is like to run a store.
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When asked which piece in his store he found the most interesting, Lo pointed to a project called “First Time Cook This Dish,” launched by a woman in her 20s and illustrated by local artist who draws pictures of the dishes by hand.
She interviewed people from Hong Kong to find out about their favourite foods from when they were growing up. Then, together with the interviewees, she would shop for ingredients at the wet market, cook the dishes, and talk about how the city has changed.
Her art is one example of how artists struggle to make money with their masterpieces, Lo said. Many other artists in the city have this same problem, and still work full-time jobs in order to fund their passion. Lo can relate, as he works full-time as a curator in some of the city’s major art hubs, while managing the store part-time.
On the plus side, the local art scene is now booming, mainly because people have no other choice, Lo said.
“You stay [in Hong Kong], but you’re not satisfied with the status quo. You want to do something within your capabilities; after all, you need to make a living. You have no choice but to find these little spaces and seams to survive.”
Window and Alley: 3A Sharp Street West, Causeway Bay
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