CHAT 2023 Research Grant
For the year 2023, we are pleased to announce that Wong Zhen Jie Lionel is the recipient of
the CHAT Research Grant, whose research proposal explores costume design in the context
of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.
Jury’s Comments
CHAT is happy to present the following comments regarding the award from our esteemed jurors, Janis Jefferies, Emeritus Professor of Visual Arts at Goldsmiths, University of London, UK; Edith Cheung, CHAT Advisory Panel and Textile Catalyst of The Costume Squad Ltd, Hong
Kong; journalist and writer Christopher DeWolf; and Bruce Li, CHAT Associate Curator.
‘All proposals submitted from around the world were conceptually interesting and shows diverse possibilities of how Hong Kong may contribute to developing discourse around textiles.
We decided to award Lionel Wong’s exciting research proposal because his proposal to investigate the costume-making of Cantopop entertainment and its new technology applications has strong potential to contribute to a new research area for Hong Kong’s textile industrial history. Moreover, Lionel’s proposal contains various modalities, including an investigation of material, designer-tailor relationships, and a forward-looking emphasis on examining new technology while shedding light on a previously under-documented aspect of Hong Kong’s textile industry and culture.’
Recipient Statement
‘I am extremely honoured to be the recipient of this prestigious Research Grant. As a Singaporean, I grew up listening to Canto-pop songs and I remember being entranced by the performers’ flamboyant costumes and exotic textiles with incredible details. The efforts of the designers and craftspeople who created these garments and their textiles are monumental, and it is important to document these works and processes before they are lost to time. As someone passionate about creating artistic fashion expressions through synergizing craft and technology, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from my predecessors, to document their legacy, and tell their stories to the communities both local and beyond.’