Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) from the dying old to the living new : an investigation of the "neo-Hong Kong-style Canton porcelain (HKSCP)" as a way of keeping it alive

Abstract

This paper explains the current Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) safeguarding movement and conservation approaches in Hong Kong. ICH conservation is a trending topic locally and globally. Even with the attention, there is almost no scholar focusing on discussing ICH conservation methods. In addition, it is difficult to keep traditional handicrafts “living” under such a fast-changing pace of development in the modern world. Thus, more research on sustainable conservation methods is essential in addressing challenges in ICH conservation. Neo-Hong Kong Style Canton Porcelain (HKSCP) is a reviving style of Guangcai (廣彩), a listed Hong Kong ICH item that has been struggling to survive due to the decline of its industry. Neo-HKSCP serves as a means for community-led safeguarding practices to attract more customers. To examine if such a solution could provide inspiration for local ICH conservation, a qualitative research approach was chosen for this case study. It consists of a formal interview with Mrs. Ruby Tso Ip (a professional Guangcai practitioner and wife of the owner of Yuet Tung China Works); informal interviews with other practitioners, including Mr. Lam Duen Shan Ming (the youngest professional Guangcai practitioner who had fully inherited the craftsmanship in Hong Kong); observations from workshops and exhibitions, as well as secondary research from texts and images. Data collected are used to analysis the success of this conservation method following the four criteria for ICH inscription set by UNESCO. Driven by communal stakeholders, Neo-HKSCP is a successful conservation approach, with adaptations to modern society that captures the traditional craftsmanship elements and opened up possibilities in utilizing the craft to arouse interests from the local general public, especially the younger generation. Yet, there are still limitations in the current approach owing to the lack of collaboration among stakeholders from the society and the government. Although the statutory body of ICH conservation has set forth a general framework for community participation, the impact in pushing forward ICH safeguarding is limited. Recognizing the roles each stakeholder should take, this thesis addresses how cooperation among different parties can be fostered with the given opportunities in current society for ICH conservation. In addition, to better facilitate ICH conservation in Hong Kong, more in-depth studies on other ICH items are anticipated. This study, therefore, not only serves as a record of the evolution of the craft HKSCP but also a reference case study in justifying the effectiveness of other conservation approaches.