“You can’t make enough to eat.”
We took a two planes, 4 taxis’s, a bus, three trains and a water taxi to get to Peng Chau island. Three countries and two days to meet the master Lam.
My little family came across the world to see this famous hand painted porcelain factory. From Canada to Hong Kong to learn the technique and history of my canton ancestors.
We walked through the alleys of the island, passing small eateries, a temple, and shops. When we struggled to find Chiu Kee’s Ceramic store we only had to ask one vendor and with a laugh as if it’s the most obvious answer in the world she says “Chiu Kee is that way! Next to the bank.” Of course … because in its hey days of the 60’s and 70’s Chiu Kee ceramic factory boasted over a dozen shops and favourites and was known throughout Canton, and it was a household name known by all.
To see the storefront, so unassuming and humble, one would not have guessed the impact this art has had in our culture. I felt like I was walking into my past.
Over the years as mass production of commercial ceramic factories grew, the Chiu Kee empire was reduced to this single shop in the late 80’s, and if it wasn’t for their neighbour, and ceramics teacher Winus Lee, who helped the family keep their doors open- the shop may have been closed years ago.
Chiu Kee has passed many years ago and now Lam Kiu in her early 80’s continues to paint every day. When I asked her if she had an apprentice she said she wouldn’t let her children learn the art- “there is no money in it, you can’t even make enough to eat.”
There is something very painful and relatable for many artists to hear these words, as I myself always think about HOW many people can do what an artist can do? There are thousands of doctors and lawyers and high paying professionals in my city alone and not one, of 1.5 million people in Calgary could do what Master Lam can do and yet she says with such all knowing- you cannot make enough to eat.
People know how closely I feel about the importance of food in how we teach our young, in how we engage with others and how we see ourselves. These words make it more important for me to be in this place and make it important for me to find a way to carry on tradition and teach value in our worth as artists.
With younger generations seeking a connection to the past and their heritage, people have been coming in from all over the world to buy these treasures and learn the lost techniques in workshops and classes. You can find Master Lam every day painting her porcelain.
I look forward to working on the techniques I learned from Master Lam, and bringing them into my pieces to pay homage to Cantonese people and remind people to value their artists.
Please take the time to visit Chiu Kee Porcelain Factory + Winus Lee Ceramic Factory and buy of history for yourself, if only to remind you of the importance of supporting small, local and handmade
Where: Chiu Kee Porcelain Factory & Winus Lee ceramic workshop , 7 Wing Hing Street; (+852) 9193 8044/+852 9822 6506; open daily 11a.m.-6p.m.
