Sai Kung Waterfront in the Evening 西貢海傍的黃昏

A very quick sketch at a pier along the Sai Kung waterfront this evening.

今日黃昏畫的西貢海傍。

Hongkongese Protest Against the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border (Sketch with Updated Commentary)

Hongkongese Protest Against the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border

The sketch was done outside the Legislative Council Building on 13 June 2014. The protest was against the Northeast development project of Hong Kong. As huge group of Hongkongese surrounded the legislature and a group of pro-Hong Kong legislators inside the meeting came forward and argued with the chairperson and the Pro-China legislators, the Legislative Council meeting was cut short without approving the project. If the project were to be approved, the Hong Kong-China border will be effectively dissolved, leaving Hong Kong defenseless against any form of aggression from Communist China.

The Long-term Causes that led to the Protest

Since the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the People’s Republic of China has been increasingly interfering with Hong Kong’s internal affairs which violated the “One Country, Two Systems” principle enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration ensuring Hong Kong full autonomy on all internal affairs except defense and diplomacy. For instance, even as of 17 years since the handover, Hongkongese were still unable to elect its “Chief Executive”, an equivalent to the president of a country, as the position is still appointed by a pro-China committee. The Legislative Council is still not fully elected by the Hong Kong general public but largely controlled by pro-China legislators. Every day, a quota of 150 is given to immigrants from the People’s Republic of China and, ironically, as an autonomous state, Hong Kong is deprived of the right to filter or refuse entry of these people. It is an attempt to change Hong Kong’s demography. And, in recent years, deprived of any mechanism to regulate the inflow of visitors from China, Hong Kong have seen a dramatic increase in number of visitors.  In 2013, the total number of visitors had exceeded 54 million people, six times the population of Hong Kong and, among them, 75% came from China. These visitors from China have been buying up daily necessities such as milk powder and smuggling them to China in huge quantities in broad daylight, overloading the public transport systems, driving up rent and effectively shut down local and traditional shops with great cultural significance all around the city in huge numbers. Worst still, the People’s Republic of China has just issued a “White Paper” in June, claiming that China has the right of total governance in Hong Kong, an act that violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration and essentially an attempt to abolish the constitution of Hong Kong.

Two Systems for Two Peoples

The growing identity of Hongkongese as a separate group of people different from that of the Chinese of the People’s Republic of China had never been stronger as China’s aggression escalates. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong had been separated from Mainland China since the British takeover in 1841, which since then developed into a community with its own distinct identity. It was not until 1997 that Hong Kong was handed over to the present People’s Republic of China, without first consulting the Hong Kong public.

Gary Yeung

Special thanks to Richard for editing the text!

Sketching on a footbridge in Central 得輔道中行人天橋速寫

A band of sketchers retreated to the air-conditioned footbridge above Des Voeux Road Central in the hot afternoon, sketching the street views on both sides of the footbridge.

 夏日炎炎，眾畫友係冷氣行人天橋上速寫四周。

Rally against the North-East Development and the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border 東北失守，邊界溶解，香港勢危！

Sketching at the Lego council earlier this evening. The rally is against the NE development of HK. If the project is approved, the Hong Kong-China border will be effectively dissolved, leaving Hong Kong defenceless against any form of China's aggression.

Excerpt from Local Press:

The North East New Territories Development Project, if approved by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, would enable Mainland Chinese to enter Hong Kong without a visa, which will in effect remove the border between Hong Kong and China. Contravening the “One Country, Two Systems", as promised and made into law by London and Beijing, this will severely endanger the lives of seven million Hongkongers. 本土新聞:東北失守，邊界溶解，香港勢危！新界東北發展計劃，一旦在立法會通過，則大陸人可免簽證進入香港居住，港中邊界蕩然無存，一國兩制形同虛設！Full Article please go to:http://localpresshk.com/2014/06/dissolution-of-hong-kong-china-border/

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong holds its first exhibition 香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong's first exhibition will start this Sunday!  Do come!

香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽今個禮拜日開始啦！記住嚟欣賞！

Press Release

Headline:                    Urban Sketchers Hong Kong holds its first exhibition

Venue:                     Boom Cafe-Gallery, Sai Street, Sheung Wan

Date:                        7-29 June, 2014

Opening Ceremony: 4pm, Sunday, 8 June, 2014, 

Contact:                     urbansketchershk@gmail.com

Theme: “Sketch Boom on Sai Street”

The Event

Nestled in the northern part of Sheung Wan lie a few streets brimming with eclectic charm. Galleries stand shoulder-to-shoulder with little stores plying their trade, making or selling all manner of goods. Incense from prayer halls spice the air as patrons throng the cafés and dai-pai-dongs dotting the neighborhood. Families stroll the streets, dogs in tow, as residents of all races slurp noodles or chatter over a cup of tea. 

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong has always actively sought out spots for sketchcrawls that reflect life in this colorful city we call home. In keeping with the spirit of Boom, the cafe-gallery and first venue that has agreed to showcase the work of members of USk HK, we decided that it was only appropriate that the exhibition theme be the documentation of Sai Street and its immediate neighbors.

For a Sketcher, the area is a visual buffet, with every street corner presenting opportunities for a couple hours of sketching delight. Bits of older Hong Kong are flanked by towers of newness. Quiet yet full of life, it's a spot which happily sees relatively few vehicles. Back alleys and side streets showcase proud pieces of graffiti and accidental street sculpture. 

Over the course of the last few weeks, we've come as groups and individuals to sketch the stories we see here. As the world changes swiftly around us, it is our hope and intention that this body of work captures the essence of this wonderful little neighborhood at this point in time, preserving its beauty in line and color.

About Urban Sketchers HK (USk HK)

With a little over 1000 members on our Facebook Group, USk HK is the largest community of sketchers in Hong Kong. We are the local chapter of the global movement, and participants are both local and international from all kinds of backgrounds, united by the burning desire to sketch on location, then share what we've made. We ask only that the focus of sketches posted are of Hong Kong.

With sketchbooks (paper or digital) in hand, we can be found perched on stoops and ledges, or planted on little chairs, absorbed in observing the world around us and documenting and sharing what we see, in situ.

新聞稿

標題：香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽 --  速寫西街

地點：Boom Cafe-Gallery，畫廊，西街，上環

日期： 2014年6月7-29日

開幕時間： 2014年6月8日 (週日)  下午4-7點

現代的香港人可以從舊照片或英國畫家留下的作品，窺探老香港風貌。隨著城市的高速發展，很多城市風景已來不及被紀錄。而香港城市速寫人便一直積極尋求香港的獨特風景，特別是快被人遺忘的日常景物。城市速寫人希望利用速寫去反映和紀錄我們稱之為家的城市，及其多姿多彩的生活。

近年中上環的荷里活充道至半山交界的街道，除了保持了古舊的老香港味道: 如港式雜貨店、各式各樣的古董店、大排檔和古蹟寺廟等，還有不少翻新了的大廈，讓畫廊、咖啡店、特色傢具店和服務式住宅進駐。因此令這個舊區一躍而成為一個中西新舊融和的港式文化展示地。於週末，不同國籍的人皆於這裡流連、溜狗、喝著咖啡去享受這個獨特社區的恬靜。

為了配合Boom-- 提供埸地支持予香港城市速寫人的第一個展覽 -- 展覽場地的環境和氛圍，我們決定以位於中上環的西街一帶為速寫主題。對於城市速寫人來說，西街一帶的每一個街角都充滿了值得花上數小時去寫生的題材: 新舊混雜的建築物，後巷和橫街中展示了本土藝術家的塗鴉作品和街頭雕塑。

在過去的幾個星期，我們一行人或個別地到訪西街一帶，並勾畫我們在這裡看到的故事。隨著世界在我們身邊迅速地改變，我們希望藉由香港城市速寫人的畫筆，抓住這個美妙的小社區當下的精髓，以線條和色彩保存其絢麗。

關於香港城市速寫人（ USk HK）

在我們的Facebook群組擁有大約1000多名會員，USk HK是於香港的城市速寫人中最大的社團。我們是全球城市速寫運動的其中一個地方分會，成員包括擁有本地和國際的背景的香港人及居港外籍人士。我們都是因為對"以速寫記錄當下"抱有相同的熱情而凝聚在一起，進行速寫，然後彼此分享作品與繪畫成果。而我們要求大家分享速寫的的重點是在香港所見的景物。

"Art Sai Kung" An Exhibition of Works by Gary Yeung, Tara J Smyth and Sascha Camille Howard 西貢畫展

1 June 2014

11:00am - 5:00pm

Sai Kung Sunday Market

Hong Kong Academy (香港學堂)

33 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung, Sai Kung (西貢惠民路 33 號)

 Gary Yeung

 Sascha Camille Howard

 Tara J Smyth

Wall Trees, Sketcher and Stairs 城皇街上的樓梯、畫家同石牆樹

A fellow sketcher at work took advantage of the shade of the wall trees in Shing Wong Street.  These wall trees are magnificent!

一位畫友安坐城皇街石牆樹下作畫。

Sheung Wan Graffiti Artists 上環塗鴉高手

I went sketching with Urban Sketchers Hong Kong in Sheung Wan this afternoon.  Stuffy with occasional rain but the weather didn't affect our high spirit at all.  I walked around the neighbourhood of Sai Street and met a group of graffiti artists at work in a narrow alley.  Great sketch material so I settled down and did two quick sketches of them.  Rookie, a graffiti artist from Taiwan posed with my sketch of him.   Great work of art they were making!

今日下午我同一班香港速寫人去上環西街一帶寫生。行到西街附近一條小巷見到一班塗鴉高手獻技就坐底畫咗兩張速寫。畫完後來自臺灣的 Rookie 重賞面同我畫佢張速寫影相。多謝Rookie!

Tsing Yi Tin Hau Birthday Celebration 青衣天后誕

It was the first time I went to the street market and Cantonese Opera street theatre for Tsing Yi Tin Hau birthday celebration.  The locals were all so obsessed with the many street food and snacks offered by the large number of street stalls there!   What a very festive sight!   I believe most Hongkongese have become bored with the chain stores and air-conditioned malls in Hong Kong!   Such street markets should be present in every district and town around the city all year round!  I believe they do not just provide an alternative and cheaper choice for the locals but also help preserve local food and cultures!

青衣天后誕戲棚同市集規模大，美食處處，現場個個食得淘醉，熱鬧非常！ 其實香港每區每市都要有大型地攤市集啦，一來有助保留地區特色美食同文化，二來市民又多個商場外的選擇，三來更可以等多尐人小本創業，有助復興經濟！

Painting Old Hong Kong 繪畫老香港

It's a quite a challenge to paint so many people scattered on the stairs.  Based on an old photo, the scene is probably Ladder Street, Sheung Wan.   Currently, I'm building the under layer of the painting.

根據舊相新畫的！地點應該喺上環樓梯街。今日正上緊畫的最底層。畫面人物眾多，睇怕都要分多次畫！

Christ the King Chapel 基督君王小堂

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。

Tea Time in the Balcony 騎樓歎下午茶

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！

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

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。

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

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。

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

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！

Sketching Tai Nam Street 大南街寫生

A large group of sketchers assembled in Sham Shui Po today and sketched the neighborhood of Apliu Street.  Attracted to the old building, (the one on the left of my sketch) I settled in the junction of Pak Ho Street and Tai Nam Street and sketched the street scene.

今日一大班畫友齊集鴨寮街一帶作畫。行到大南街北河街交界見到此舊樓 (圖最左面）就坐低畫佢同街景。

Sketching at the Tui Min Hoi Village Pier 西貢對面海村碼頭寫生

An overcast day made a good sketch day at this very exposed pier in Sai Kung.   A group of sketchers and I gathered here in the afternoon and sketched comfortably everything around us.  

陰天正好是到無遮無擋的碼頭畫畫。

Cantonese Opera on Valentine's Day 西貢情人節粵劇

A Cantonese opera，a love story on Valentine's Day in Sai Kung Town, Hong Kong
西貢市情人節粵劇，花田八喜。

Sketching on Sir Cecil's Ride 金督馳馬徑上寫生

 The place was a mountain top along Sir Cecil's Ride.  By around 6, I was surrounded by mounted cameras all pointing to the harbor, which was filled with dazzling lights! 

地點是金督馳馬徑的山頂上。畫至黃昏時，維港夜色璀璨，山頂到處都是龍友!

Fruit Store at Night 晚上的興記生果

The sketch was done in a haste at night as the shop started to close when I just started. The gates were already closed and the lights out when I was half-done. 

It's a very funny and "famous" fruit store as the very long and big shop slogan says "EVERY EARTHLING knows that Hing Kee's fruit is the cheapest and the most delicious."

開始畫時，興記準備收檔。畫到半路，閘關燈滅，唯有靠咕！

無敵！「地球人都知道興記生果平靚正」你知唔知?

The Gong of Fortune 銅鑼一嚮 大吉大利

The Gong of Fortune is placed in front of the Sai Kung Tin Hau Temple during the Lunar New Year period. If you want a new year filled with good fortune, go hit it :)

農曆年間，西貢天后廟前銅鑼一嚮，全年大吉大利，你敲咗未?

Golden Afternoon in Nam Chung 南涌的下午

A very beautiful and peaceful place.
南涌的下午,  平靜、美麗。

Veggie Lunch in Nam Chung 南涌午餐

A wonderful lunch prepared by my dear brother!
由巴打泡製的蔬菜午餐！

北角春秧街花檔 Lunar New Year Flower Stall in Chun Yeung Street

The last day before Lunar New Year, Chun Yeung Street was filled with people looking for the right flowers of the season and delicacies that cannot be absent on this occasion.

年三十春秧街好多人辦年貨同買年花，熱鬧非常。

Sketching the Tang Ancestral Hall 速寫鄧氏家祠

Info from Wikipedia

The Tang Ancestral Hall is one of the largest ancestral halls in the territory. It is located between Hang Mei Tsuen and Hang Tau Tsuen.

It was constructed by Tang Fung-shun, the fifth generation ancestor of Tang Clan about 700 years ago. It is the main ancestral hall of the Tang clan of Ping Shan. It is a three-hall structure with two internal courtyards. The wooden brackets and beams of the three halls are carved with auspicious Chinese motifs. Shiwan dragon-fish and pottery unicorns decorate the main ridges and roofs. There are ancestral tablets at the altar at the rear hall.

This ancestral hall is still used regularly for worship and celebrations of traditional festivals and ceremonies, as well as a meeting place for the Tang clan of Ping Shan.

维基百科資料

鄧氏宗祠座落於香港屏山，是鄧族的祖祠，由屏山的三圍六村所環抱。據鄧氏族譜所載，宗祠由五世祖馮遜公興建，至今已有700多年歷史。鄧氏宗祠是香港最大的祠堂之一，為屏山文物徑的重點古蹟之一，於2001年12月被列為香港法定古蹟列表。