BOOKTALKS| Legendary Stories of Hong Kong Calligraphy Signage

Introduction

Hong Kong’s unique landscape of densely packed signage is renowned worldwide. From the 1930s to the 1980s, several prominent calligraphers in Hong Kong—Kin Kung Au, Hsi Hsieh, Shiu Hang Cheuk, and Yat Ming Lai, collectively shaped Hong Kong’s distinctive urban landscape over half a century through their commercial and charitable works. Their creations—including signage for Sun Hung Kai Properties, Eu Yan Sang, Chow Sang Sang Jewellery, Federal Restaurant, and Ho To Tai Noodle Shop—are widely recognized by the public. Westley Wong, author of Ink & The City: Applied Calligraphy Of Hong Kong, and his team spent over four years compiling and researching the works of these four calligraphers, gathering over a thousand precious images, ranging from signage and cards to couplets, and paper-based works. In this lecture, Wong will recount the stories about the journey and how these signs collectively shaped Hong Kong’s urban character.

Winsing Art Place and Joint Publishing HK jointly present two book-sharing lectures, featuring Westley Wong, author of Ink & The City: Applied Calligraphy of Hong Kong, and Hei Shing Chan, author of Alchemist: Exploring the Beauty of Books. Through their respective works, they will guide readers in discovering the calligraphic culture embodied by Hong Kong’s signage and the experiences of contemporary Hong Kong book design. The lectures will be held consecutively on the afternoon of February 8th. We invite you to join us at the bookstore for discussion and exchange.