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With close to 300 years of history, the once-abandoned island of Yim Tin Tsai was rich in Catholic and Hakka cultures. In 2019, the Tourism Commission put this tiny island on the radar of the art community with the Yim Tin Tsai Arts Festival, where artists and villagers worked together to create art pieces to help revive the village. Today, 10 retained artworks curated during the festival are available for visitors’ appreciation.
Yim Tin Tsai once again brought visitors and villagers together through art. Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival invited six artists to create artworks responding to the theme of ‘Sequencing’, which is about the joy of reunion and our connection to nature. Explore the island’s wetlands, pathways, and bridges to find a series of creative works by cross-disciplinary artist Margaret Chu, public space designer Dylan Kwok, environmental artist Monti Lai, architect Anthony Ko, designers Sherman Sun and Sarah Mui, and kinetic artist Joseph Chan. Follow the artworks to experience the rich ecology on Yim Tin Tsai, as well as the island’s salt-making history and cultural heritage.
Homeward Voyage
For the villagers of Yim Tin Tsai, St. Joseph’s Chapel, a Catholic chapel perched on a slope, was like a lighthouse in Sai Kung Hoi that showed sailors the way home. Margaret Chu’s work, Homeward Voyage, is inspired by navigation and direction. Composed of a concrete dove and a silhouette dove connected as a sail, this sculpture represents the Holy Spirit’s guidance and protection on every boat’s journey home.
The Salty Breeze
Yim Tin Tsai, Hong Kong’s only salt pan, represents generations of salt-making traditions and effort. The salt production process is far from easy — to pay homage to the villagers’ persevering life philosophy, Sherman Sun and Sarah Mui created The Salty Breeze in honour of the villagers’ ancestors. They also invite visitors to engage in casual conversations with one another to illustrate how the salt pan serves as a daily gathering place for the villagers.
Taste of Memory
“Being a woman in Yim Tin Tsai is tough...” This statement from a Hakka woman of the village conveys the vulnerability and belittlement of living in a Hakka society. By combining true stories that she has heard over the years, Monti Lai presents the bitter truth of Hakka women through a collection of videos and texts in Taste of Memory.
[Remarks: This artwork has been removed from the site. You may still see the artwork on this virtual tour. ]
Fragile World
Jade Girdle Bridge is located at the end of the trail on Yim Tin Tsai, linking to Kau Sai Chau. On the bridge is Fragile World, a hollow sphere lined with mirrored rings created by Anthony Ko. Enter the sphere to observe the reflections — they represent the past and present of the island’s residents, including the hardships they faced, and the sacrifices made by the Hakka women for their loved ones.
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As you pass through the village and climb up the hill, a pair of giant hands unfold before you on a carpet of grass (formerly a football field) near a cemetery. Reminiscent of ‘God’s hands’, these maze-like hands were created by Dylan Kwok to encourage visitors to explore their deepest thoughts and rediscover the simple joys in life.
Water Dragon
Traditional dragon spine water wheel were used to pump brine near sea level to salt-drying ponds on the surface, but they became obsolete as technology advanced. Taking inspiration from this ancient machine, Joseph Chan created Water Dragon to resurrect old wisdom for a new generation.
Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival
Location: Yim Tin Tsai and Sharp Island, Sai Kung, New Territories
Website: https://skhartsfestival.hk/en/
Transportation
From the Sai Kung town centre, which is accessible via public transportation, visitors can purchase kaito ferry tickets to Yim Tin Tsai and Sharp Island at the Sai Kung Public Pier.
1. Yim Tin Tsai
Kaito tickets to Yim Tin Tsai can be purchased at the counter near the Hung Kee Seafood Restaurant. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get from the Pier to Yim Tin Tsai.
2. Sharp Island
Tickets for the kaito ferry can be purchased at the kaito service providers near Sai Kung New Public Pier. It takes approximately 20 minutes to get to Sharp Island from the Pier.
