虎地坳 - 再生 REGENERATION OF FU TEI AU VILLAGE
廢墟與回憶 Ruins and Memories in Fu Tei Au Village and Sheung Shui Wai It is relatively easy to discover ruins in Fu Tei Au Village, being scattered around in the lands and hills of the surrounding area. All ruins contain certain memories of the past or even memories that has gone beyond the scale of human time. Yet, some of these ruins are also part of everyday lives for the locals, physically and spiritually connected to their living space. With all these memory combined, maggled and layered, leads us to uncover these different layers. It is believed that the collective understanding of these memories informs a certain identity of the village. Although the complexity of ruins and memories and lack of historical records created an interesting rural community, it has also causes the vagueness of their identity. This situation is further worsen due the departure of local population with the pressure of government’s redevelopments. As an non-indigenous village, Fu Tei Au’s villagers has long been struggled to establish their own identity though fighting for the recognition of Liu’s family, government and the fellow citizen of Hong Kong.
Through the process of research, uncovering the complex history and memories of Fu Tei Au. We have also grown to understand and acknowledge the quality of ‘ambiguilty’ of this land. Although every villagers have a common understanding of some basic history of the village, it is their own interpretation of history (memory) that creates a refreshing experience for us. Moreover, we have also realised the regeneration of this project is not restricted phyically at preservation of structures with historical value. According to ‘Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage’, published by UNESCO, it is also important to acknowledge the living history, such as rituals, skills or ‘Storytelling’...
In order to re-establish their identity, this research attempt to uncover the lost connection of Fu Tei Au Village and Sheung Shui Wai through examining the location, meaning of their sacred structures (Tombs, Ancestry Halls, Shrines, Temples...). Working not only with historical maps, we also interview few of the locals on their memories of the village in its past glory.
Left: Drawing of Mr. Chow’s Roof, layered with
It is expected that a possible site for regeneration can be informed by reconnecting series of connections between different parties in the wider Shueng Shui area.
timber planks, Tar, Zinc coated iron cladding and neon cloth. In a micro scale, domestic scale, we can see the complicated layer of memories/ history of his house.
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