Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong

Master of Design
School of Design
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

SD 5002 Design and Culture

Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong

Subject Leader
Laurent Gutierrez

Co-Presenters
Dr. Valerie Portefaix

Student
Lo Ching Man
09682926G
[e-mail]
Collective Memory and Design in Hong Kong

Introduction

From 1990s, the term collective memory emerged in the Hong Kong society. It is commonly used in the community and the media nowadays. People are growing interest in preserve the objects related to our collective memory, such as the Star ferry Pier, the Queen’s Pier, Lee Tung Street. Also recently the Wing Lee Street in Sheung Wan, the shooting location for the acclaimed film “Echoes of the Rain”. Originally the plan was to preserve just three of the 12 tenements on the street, but now it is confirmed to preserve all areas in response to the public’s request.

Besides the historic and cultural landmark, there are many places, events, people and objects which are becoming our collective memory in the public. What does it imply to our culture and identity? According to Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of HKSAR (CE’s letter to Hong Kong, January 28, 2007), “perhaps it has arisen as people reflect on their cultural identity and what it means to be a citizen of the HKSAR. The result is a growing sense of history, rooted in locality and focused on a sense of place. Perhaps it is feeling that has been gathering momentum since our Reunification in 1997, as people seek to identify with the place they were brought up and wher they work and live.” Perhaps Mr Tsang’s message is correct. There are many objects in the past. While some of them have become our collective memory but most of them were being forgetten. How does the collective memory change in response to socio-political changes? How does the design objects in related to our cultural memory? And finally how is our design products reflected our culture?

What is

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