Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Root & Branch is work in progress and is a collaboration between Linda Norris and Hong Kong based artist, Wai Kit Lam. The work is supported by Wales Arts International. Linda and Wai Kit met online during the first Covid19 lockdown in 2020. They decided to develop some work together and settled on the theme of ‘trees’ as a symbol of resilience, networking and growth. This work forms the basis of Root & Branch. At a time of great tumult and division globally, the aim of this project is to reach out and physically exchange handmade artworks in order to form a creative network linking artists in Wales and Hong Kong with practitioners in other countries. Although the handmade and haptic is important to Linda and Wai Kit when making connections and in our own interaction with materials, they have also welcomed digital artwork. Root & Branch is an idiom roughly meaning “completely” i.e. affecting both the roots and the branches of a tree. Linda and Wai Kit have chosen it more because of its association with the different parts of a tree than for its idiomatic meaning. They are interested in how trees network and communicate with each other and how the, often hidden, roots directly feed the more visible branches. The artists are trying to combat cultural and geographic divisions by linking with other artists to make networks and spark new connections that come from the roots of their practice and it is an experiment to see what arises from that. For Root & Branch Linda and Wai Kit have invited a number of artists who use trees or wood in some way in their work to contribute an A6 postcard artwork. In return Linda and Wai Kit have each hand-made a series of original A6 postcards one of which which they have sent to each of the participating artists. The artists appreciate there is an act of generosity involved from all participants and have reciprocated by sending an artwork and offering their time and resources to organise the project. To Linda and Wai Kit the act of generosity is also important element. The resulting works are shown below and will form the basis of an online exchange and exhibition, and a physical exhibition which is on show at Karin Weber Gallery, Central Hong Kong from 13 November to 18 December 2021. There will be an opening event on 20 November 2021, 3-6pm. The exhibition will subsequently be touring internationally. Wai Kit has produced 14 postcards entitled Missing Ivy. Each postcard shows a map of Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong. In each postcard, one street is cut away. Each postcard has a different cutaway street. On the back of the postcard, the name of the missing street is written next to the cutaway. The concept comes from the Tai Kok Tsui streets’ names with the names of British trees; they were named during colonial times by British officials. The first one, next to the coast, was named Ivy Street, of which once there were ivy trees. As time went by, that area was reclaimed. The new streets were named Oak
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Street, Beech Street, Sycamore Street, Larch Street, Fir Street, Walnut Street, Ash Street, etc. But none of these streets had ever had any British trees. Furthermore, no more ivy trees at Ivy Street since then. “This historical naming provokes my perception of identity. What if an identity is forced to abolish
or vanish by the passage of time? Moreover, identity may also be imposed, even if it is forever never an authentic self.” – Wai Kit Lam Linda’s 15 postcards are also inspired by the fact that many streets in Hong Kong bear the names of British trees: Ash St, Sycamore St, Oak St, Walnut St, Hawthorn Rd, Beech St and Willow St etc. and each of these is represented in Linda’s work alongside some special Welsh trees including a 5000 year old yew tree and a Bardsey Apple Tree. The postcards are made using a combination of paint and cyanotype to create images using leaves Linda has gathered from trees mostly local to her home in Wales and overlaying these onto text from a vintage botanical book roughly dating to the time most of the streets were named and which Linda found in a second hand book store. To date the participating artists are: Janice Affleck (Scotland), Patricio Álvarez Aragón (Chile/Germany), Inguna Audere (Latvia), Olga Blokh (Finland), Evy Cohen (France), Irma Collective (Latvia), Robert Davies (Wales), Madeleine Doré (Canada/France), Michele Dovey (Wales), Winnie Tak Kwan Fung (Hong Kong), Kim Dotty Hachmann (Germany), Kenneth Hay (UK/France), Juliana Neves Hoffmann (Brazil), Nung-Hsin Hu (Taiwan/USA), Herbert W.H. Hundrich (Germany), Rachel Hiu Yin Ip (Hong Kong), Robert Jakes (Wales), Agnes Ku (Hong Kong), Wai Kit Lam (Hong Kong), Joe Lau (Hong Kong/Taiwan), Danny Merrill (Wales), Penka O’Hara (UK), Rachel Sargeant (Wales), Erika
O’Hara (UK), Sian
Lester (Wales), Susana
Mincheva (Bulgaria), Moorland Phillips (Wales), Nia
López
Fernández (Spain), Bim
Productions (France/UK), Kika
Pushkarova (Bulgaria), Francoise
Tan (Singapore/UK), Annette
Townsend (Wales), Ming
Mason (Wales), Helen
Nicolela (Brazil/Belgium), Linda
Rod (France/Switzerland), Michael Chong
Tse (Hong
Kong), Marcos
Maurer (UK), John Norris (Wales), Danny
Rogers (USA/Latvia), Ruth Vidal
Font (Spain), Ian
Wieczorek (Ireland), Karin Weber Gallery (Hong Kong), May Ming Yu (Hong Kong).
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 1
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Patricio Álvarez Aragón
Country Chile/German y B
Artwork Title Accumulation Series - "Man's trace"
Year
Medium
Dimensions
2021
found stickers over postcard
105 x 148mm
2021
hand printed, ink
148 x 105mm
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Marcos Vidal Font
Spain
Human Rubber Bands
+
3
Françoise Rod
France/Switze Au creux de l’arbre rland
2021
wood from marquetry 148 x 105mm h
4
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
t
Missing Elm 2
148 x 105mm
+1 +@ 5
Linda Norris
Wales
Ash 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 6
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title Family Roots
Year 2021
Medium photo print and soil
Dimensions
Kim Dotty Hachmann
Germany
7
Michael Rogers
Latvia/USA
Apparition
2021
digital print
148 x 105mm
8
Linda Norris
Wales
Holly 3
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
+
3
9
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
t
Missing Palm 2
app. 420 x300mm
+1 +@ 10
Irma Collective
Latvia
Adornment
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 11
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Penka Mincheva
Country Bulgaria
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Golden Autumn
2021
watercolour
105 x 148mm
Missing Lime
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
B
12
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
t
2
Dimensions
+1 +@ 13
Agnes Ku
Hong Kong
In the Calm Amid the Storm
2021
digital print and sewing on paper +
148 x 105mm
+
14
Linda Norris
Wales
Chestnut 2
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
15
Janice Affleck
Scotland
The Timber Ponds
2021
silk screen print
105 x 148mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
Artwork Image Front
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Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
16
Olga Blokh
Finland
Murpups From Puumala
2021
watercolour, 105 x Japanese ink painting 148mm
17
Linda Norris
Wales
Bardsey Apple 1
2021
Cyanotype
148 x 105mm
18
Ruth Sargeant
Wales
Laburnum
2021
digital print of drawing
105 x 148mm
19
John Merrill
Wales
Oak
2021
woodblock print
148 x 105mm
20
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Pine
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
t
2
+1 +@
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 21
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Nung-Hsin Hu
Country Taiwan/USA
Artwork Title Fire Can’t Burn
Year 2021
1
22
Winnie Tak Kwan Fung
Hong Kong
Red Boundary Everywhere
Medium photo transfer and permanent ink
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
t
Missing Fir
148 x 105mm
+1
2021
acrylic and marker +1
1
23
Dimensions
2021
2
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
148 x 105mm
+1 +@ 24
Karin Weber Gallery
Hong Kong
Wall Grass
2021
Polaroid
148 x 105mm
25
Linda Norris
Wales
Elder 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
105 x 148mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
Artwork Image Front
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Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
26
Joe Lau
Hong Kong/Taiwan
Separation
2021
cyanotype
105 x 148mm
27
Nia Pushkarova
Bulgaria
Quick Hang Out
2021
watercolour and ink
105 x 148mm
B
28
Linda Norris
Wales
Hawthorn 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
105 x 148mm
29
Linda Norris
Wales
Hornbeam 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
30
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Walnut
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
t
2
+1 +@
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 31
Artwork Image Front
Back -
Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
Kenneth G. Hay
France
The Tree Aberystwyth
2021
photograph of painting
105 x 148mm
32
Robert Davies
Wales
Tree@Borth
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
33
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Cherry
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
t
2
+1 34
Linda Norris
Wales
Beech 2
2021
+@ paint and cyanotype
35
Robert Jakes
Wales
Root and Branch Drawing
2021
oak gall ink
148 x 105mm
148 x 105mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
36
Ming Chong Tse
Hong Kong
Summer Walk
2021
inkjet on paper
105 x 148mm
37
Linda Norris
Wales
Rowan 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
38
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Beech
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
t
2
+1 39
40
-
Michelle Dovey
Wales
Eucalyptus
2021
+@ paint
Danny O'Hara
UK
Friend
2021
paper, pencil, tree
148 x 105mm
105 x 148mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 41
Artwork Image Front
Back
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Artist Name Kika Nicolela
Country Brazil/ Belgium
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
Filling the Gap
2021
mixed media
105 x 148mm
B
42
-
Moorland Productions
France/UK
Mistletoe Balloon
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
43
-
Bim Mason
Wales
Bolsonaro Destroyer of the Amazon
2021
digital print
148 x 105mm
44
-
Moorland Productions
France/UK
Platanes
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Ash
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
45
t
2
+1 +@
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
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Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
46
Linda Norris
Wales
Yew 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
47
Evy Cohen
France
Luminance
2021
photograph
148 x 105mm
o
48
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
t
Missing Willow
2021
2
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
+1 49
Herbert W.H. Hundrich
Germany
Root + Branch Project 2021
2021
+@ mixed media
50
Linda Norris
Wales
Hazel 2
2021
paint and cyanotype
105 x 148mm
148 x 105mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
Artwork Image Front
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Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
51
Annette Townsend
Wales
Cherry Blossom
2021
sculpted wax
105 x 148mm
52
Madeleine Doré
Canada/Franc e
Roots
2021
watercolour
105 x 148mm
53
Herbert W.H. Hundrich
Germany
Root + Branch Project 2021
2021
mixed media
105 x 148mm
54
Rachel Phillips
UK
Inside Out
2021
paint
148 x 105mm
55
Linda Norris
Wales
Oak 2
2021
cyanotype
148 x 105mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 56
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Wai Kit Lam
Country Hong Kong
t
Artwork Title Missing Oak
Year 2021
2
Medium digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions 148 x 105mm
+1 +@ 57
Sian Lester
Wales
Seed Potential
2021
birch, leaf, ink, pencil, oil, pastel, dyed, wool
148 x 105mm
58
Helen Maurer
UK
Please Take Me
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
59
Herbert W.H. Hundrich
Germany
Root + Branch Project 2021
2021
mixed media
105 x 296mm
60
Linda Norris
Wales
Willow 1
2021
paint and cyanotype
148 x 105mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 61
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Wai Kit Lam
Country Hong Kong
t
Artwork Title Missing Sycamore
Year 2021
2
Medium digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions 148 x 105mm
+1 +@ 62
Linda Norris
Wales
Sycamore 2
2021
cyanotype
148 x 105mm
63
Ian Wieczorek
Ireland
Ashen
2021
digital print
148 x 105mm
64
Wai Kit Lam
Hong Kong
Missing Larch
2021
digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
148 x 105mm
t
2
+1 65
Susana López Fernández
Spain
Thinking on Calligraphy r
2021
+@ mixed media on paper, collage, Indian ink and watercolour
105 x 148mm
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item
Artwork Image Front
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Artist Name
Country
Artwork Title
Year
Medium
Dimensions
66
Inguna Audere
Latvia
Baltic Sea Drift
2021
digital print
105 x 148mm
67
Linda Norris
Wales
Walnut 1
2021
cyanotype
148 x 105mm
68
Erika Tan
Singapore/UK
A Tree with no Roots is a Dead Tree
2021
pen and text
148 x 105mm
1200 Years of Liquidambar
2021
69
May Ming Yu
Hong Kong
1
+
digital print, text & found object
1200
70
Rachel Hiu Yin Ip
Hong Kong
+
Cotton Tree.Hong Kong.2021 0
-
2021
+
instant photo on archival watercolour paper o
148 x 105mm
105 x 148mm
+
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Root & Branch - A collaboration between Wai Kit Lam and Linda Norris Item 71
Artwork Image Front
Back
Artist Name Wai Kit Lam t
Country Hong Kong
Artwork Title Missing Ivy 2
Year 2021
Medium digital print and permanent ink on cold-pressed watercolour paper
Dimensions 148 x 105mm
+1 +@
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