(Left) Kwan kwa bridal gown, Hong Kong, 1970s, CHAT Collection (Top right) Speaker Timmy Wong inside the shop of Lucky Embroidery, 1977 (Bottom right) traditional kwan kwa embroidery process. Image courtesy: CHAT and Lucky Embroidery
Revisiting Handicraft: Kwan Kwa Marriage Gown as Case Study
Is the past always better? In a society obsessed with nostalgia, how can handicraft validate, criticise or rebut the popular idea?
Timmy Wong is a master tailor of kwan kwa, a type of traditional two-piece Chinese bridal costume. He inherited ‘Lucky Embroidery’ from his father in 1977, which now stands as the only workshop still producing kwan kwa embroidery in Hong Kong. Here, Wong will explain the techniques involved in making the wedding costume, showcase exceptional examples and examine how the craft has adapted to societal changes, all while illustrating the essence of Hong Kong’s handicraft tradition. Key topics include a craftperson’s sense of time, the refined use of materials and the changing taste of the public. Participants are encouraged to raise questions and engage in discussion.
This event accompanies the special display Busy Needles: Textile Embellishments of Hong Kong in The D. H. Chen Foundation Gallery.
The deposit will be refunded in full upon attendance.
Language: Cantonese
Experience: No prior experience is needed
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