The Heng On Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services (Heng On) in Ma On Shan was the first integrated vocational rehabilitation services centre in Hong Kong 25 years ago to introduce Saori weaving courses, in which Leung Kam-ho was the first student. The weaving process of putting yarn in the loom to create fabric seems monotonous and tedious, but Kam-ho fell in love with it. Today, she is already a phenomenal weaving artisan and even won the Outstanding Idea Award at the Cross All Borders 2024: Hong Kong Competition of Showcasing New Visual Artists with Disabilities with her artwork titled ‘Four Seasons’. Having been dedicated in the art of weaving for a quarter of a century, Kam-ho not only weaves rustic and elegant fabrics but is also weaving a rich life for herself.
As Kam-ho works the loom skilfully in a series of smooth motions, she finetunes the yarn on the machine dexterously with her fingertips and presses her feet on the pedals rhythmically, intertwining and overlapping yarns of different colours with the machine. The loom lets out a series of clicking sounds and out comes gradually a small piece of fabric. So focused and mesmerised by the process, Kam-ho cannot even hear others calling out to her.
Kam-ho was the first student of Heng On’s Saori weaving art courses when the centre introduced the said courses 25 years ago. After trying her hands on the loom, she became obsessed with the art, weaving one colourful fabric after another. To improve her skills, Heng On arranged for Kam-ho to go to Japan and learn from local artisans, which paved her journey of becoming a weaving artisan herself.
Not only does Kam-ho have solid foundational skills, but she is also a master in complex weaving techniques, even the teacher Miss Lai is in awe of her: ‘Weaving a fabric takes a lot of preparation work, such as winding, threading, combing, and other processes, but Kam-ho is very good at all these. Sometimes she might come around and teach me these skills!’ Kam-ho has weaved a great variety of patterns, but it is definitely no easy feat to complete a full piece of fabric. With just a small mistake, the weaver might have to redo the whole fabric, rendering previous efforts useless. But this does nothing to dampen Kam-ho’s enthusiasm and even made her more determined, as she commented: ‘I will never quit.’
With her wild imagination, Kam-ho created many stunning works, for example, when she used gold and pink yarn to depict the silhouette of a peacock. She has her own philosophy in the use of different colours and she prefers harmonious tones to showcase her unique perspective.
Award-winning Four Seasons showcasing unique artistic perspective
Recently, Kam-ho participated in the Cross All Borders 2024: Hong Kong Competition of Showcasing New Visual Artists with Disabilities organised by Arts With the Disabled Association Hong Kong and won the Outstanding Idea Award with her work titled Four Seasons. As meaningful as the award is, she values the satisfaction she gained in the creative process even more. She commented: ‘It is not important whether I get the award or now. It is most important that I enjoy the weaving process.’
Comprising of four pieces of fabric, Four Seasons depicts the natural scenery of the four seasons. The artwork is inspired by how Kam-ho has to be quarantined at the hostel during the pandemic when she could only admire the lush tree in the park through the glass doors of the hostel. The quarantine period had been difficult for the nature-lover in Kam-ho, but it also motivated her to create this artwork that showcase the changes of the seasons.
Kam-ho utilised a newly learned technique – yarn-insertion– in the artwork to cleverly depict how the colours of the trees change with the different seasons. From the revitalisation in Spring, the lusciousness of Summer, withering in Autumn, to the bleakness in Winter, Kam-ho worked hard on creating the different shades and sharp contrasts in the colours of the four seasons. It took her more than six months to conceptualise and complete the work.
Support individuals with special needs and discover their diverse talents
With a firm conviction that all can shine out with their talents given the right circumstances, Service Supervisor of Heng On Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Service, Ms. Elisa Tao ( right side photo) said Heng On has always supported individuals with special needs, providing them with holistic arts and crafts training and vocational training. In 1999, the centre was the first integrated vocational rehabilitation services centre in Hong Kong 25 years ago to introduce Saori weaving courses. So far, Heng On has helped over 600 trainees find jobs and thus integrate into society.
As Heng On’s first Saori weaving trainee, the art for Kam-ho is more than a skill but is also a tool for her to communicate with others. Having known Kam-ho for over ten years, the teacher Miss Lai noticed that since she learned Saori weaving, she transformed from being reserved and introverted to joyful and talkative, looking people right in their eyes in a friendly manner when she talks. She would help coach other trainees in class and also care for other residents in the hostel – a genuine ‘older sister’ for all.
During the interview, Kam-ho took out a small piece of dark green fabric. Originally two to three meters long, the fabric has been cut and made into different products such as wallets, tote bags, and others, leaving behind this small piece only. Kam-ho felt reluctant to part with the fabric but the thought of her work being admired by others also filled her with genuine joy and satisfaction. She shared: ‘I have never thought of being an artist. I feel so happy when other people like my work.’
To promote their trainees’ works and to serve as a promotion platform, Heng On has established the ‘Talent Shop’ which includes a physical storefront and an online platform. Heng On has its own craft brand ‘Craftale’, of which Kam-ho’s works are included.
The Salvation Army Heng On ‘Talent Shop’
Storefront Location: G/F, Heng Kong House, Heng On Estate, Ma On Shan, NT
Website: https://www.salvationarmy.org.hk/ssd/hengon/eshop/
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