Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Christ the King Chapel 基督君王小堂

Christ the King Chapel, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Enclosed by the buildings of St. Paul's Convent School and St. Paul's Hospital, this architectural gem is barely visible to the public even as it is situated in the heart of Causeway Bay.   

典雅的基督君王小堂其實喺好大的聖堂,可容納信眾一千。小堂座落銅鑼灣,但因為聖保祿學校,聖保祿醫院等建築遮擋,是一所不多人認識的教堂。

Architectural Style:

The Exterior
Designed by Mr Joseph V Chanatong in Roman style complete with a dome, there is an extensive use of Corinthian columns around the chapel. The top of the two-storey high Corinthian columns, which are round except those in corner positions, are decorated with detailed motif designs. The whole church has about 50 doors, the upper doors serving as windows as well. Above the panelled dark coloured glass side-doors are triangular gabled projections, called pediments. The front entrance can be reached by going up several steps past the four giant groups of round pillars, the two middle ones being double columns. On top of these columns is a triangular design with a big clock in the middle, and written under are the Latin words: REGEM REGUM VENITE ADOREMUS (Let us adore the King of kings). At the tip of this triangle stands the majestic statue of Christ the King, while higher up on the roof the bell tower is visible. 
The Interior
Inside, on the right side of the entrance, there is a spiral staircase going up the choir. Aside from this there are two other staircases on either end of the balcony through a side door and hidden from view. A grand Blackett pipe organ can be seen in the balcony. Several doors around the balcony lead out to a portico - a roofed open space surrounding the three upper sides of the building. This upper portico has metal railings with some designs. As on the lower level, circular glass windows above the doors provide natural light during the day.
The apse, where the altar is located, is a vaulted semi-circular recess.   The original altar, which is on a slightly raised platform, was attached to a panel with the tabernacle at the centre, and was enclosed in a circular communion rail, common in pre-Vatican II times when the priest celebrated Holy Mass facing the tabernacle. On top of the tabernacle, which was under a stone canopy, two kneeling angels were holding lamps on either sides.  High on the wall behind the altar are two sets of three glass windows, one set smaller than and below the other. On two niches on the left and right wall, there were statues of St Joseph on one side, and St Paul on the other.  Behind the altar two doors led to the sacristy.
The three upper glass windows behind the altar were later decorated with stained pictures of Jesus Christ in the middle.  On the left is the Annunciation, and on the right the Assumption of Our Lady.
Life-size statues of Jesus and Our Lady dominate the two side altars.

建築風格:

建築師用早期基督徒的羅馬式建築,圓形頂蓋設計,配以格林多柱 (除了在角落的柱是方形外,其餘都是圓形的)。 格林多柱的特色是柱頂雕花,柱身直且有底部,聖堂外內的格林多柱的柱頂都刻有美麗的花紋,好像一棵直立的樹,樹頂有茂盛的葉一樣,象徵著生命力。
此聖堂最具特色的地方是全堂內沒有一根柱樑阻礙視線,全部柱樑都建在聖堂外。因此內部面積寬闊,光線充足,空氣流通,不論站在那一角落都可以清楚看見祭台。聖堂外面四周有格林多圓柱支撐著,只要登上數級樓梯,經過前柱,便到達入口處。
聖堂的右邊入口處有一螺旋形樓梯,可直達能容納二百多人的包廂(即我們常稱的經樓)。經樓面積頗大,居高臨下可觀看整個聖堂,樓上包廂的管形風琴現在已壞了,不能再使用,已成為古董,若要修理,則要支付非常昂貴的費用。

Monday, April 21, 2014

Tea Time in the Balcony 騎樓歎下午茶

Gathering in Kam Tin

What's better than chatting with friends,  enjoying snacks and the light summer breeze all at the same time!

有乜好過一邊歎茶、透涼,一邊同朋友談天說地!

Gathering in Kam Tin

Afternoon Tea in Kam Tin Red Brick House 錦田紅磚屋

Afternoon Tea in Kam Tin Red Brick House


A nice afternoon well spent in Kam Tin with my friends. While everyone was shopping in the Kam Tin Red Brick House, I settled myself in a corner and sketched this interesting scene in front of me. The Kam Tin Red Brick House is a very local shopping mall converted from a former candle factory and now filled with 100% local stores and cafes.

友人購物我作畫!錦田紅磚屋原為洋蠋工廠,現已成為區內好有本土特色的跳蚤市場

Afternoon Tea in Kam Tin Red Brick House

Saturday, April 19, 2014

World Wide SketchCrawl 43: Oil Street, Hong Kong 全球速寫日43 :香港油街實現

World Wide Sketch Crawl 43: Oil Street, Hong Kong

A big group of sketchers gathered at Oil Street Art Space this morning for an in-depth talk delivered by Sylvia about the site then followed by a very satisfying sketch session.  

Here is the info from the art space Facebook page:

Oil Street Art Space "Oil!" is a Grade II historic building that was built in 1908 as the clubhouse of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. Its name links the ideas behind it with its location: Oi! sounds similar to the address in Cantonese and conveys a call for people's attention while providing a platform where they can realise their dreams in art.

今早一大班sketchers聚集『油街實現』聽Sylvia講解油街實現』所在建築物的歷史同寫生!

油街實現』背景資料:

「油街實現」是一所二級歷史建築,前身為香港皇家遊艇會會所,於1908年建成。「油街實現」與地址油街12號諧音,喻意此地作為一個起步點,通過不同的體驗,將藝術融入大眾生活,從而實現「油街實現」的願景,希望它能為藝術工作者提供一個平台、一個機會去實現夢想。「它的英文名稱 "Oi!",是一個行動號召,邀請人們共同創造。名字亦能聯想到 "Oil"及「油街」,與中文名稱相連。

World Wide Sketch Crawl 43: Oil Street, Hong Kong

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Urban Sketcher Hong Kong's First Birthday 香港速寫人興祝一歲生日

Urban Sketchers's Dinner Gathering

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong celebrated her first birthday on 15 April.  We gathered at a very local restaurant in North Point that evening, had a big meal and sketched each other.  What a merry evening!  I would like to thank Alvin especially, one of our very enthusiastic sketchers and core members for organising the gathering.

香港速寫人四月十五日興祝一歲生日!一大班速寫人齊聚北角東寶小館,邊食邊畫,熱鬧非常!特此多謝Alvin兄當晚打點一切!

Urban Sketchers's Dinner Gathering