The Root of Squids is an art space in an old fisherman village KAU SAI in Hong Kong. It is designed with a concept of "Gather". We gather because we share something in common. Time flies. Majority of villagers in Kau Sai have moved to urban areas. As a result, we lack common reasons for gathering in Kau Sai and become estranged. Kelvin Ho, a villager and designer, and Jenny Tse, a product designer, hope to tell a Kau Sai story using the village’s common language and art, to create more “things in common” and opportunities for gathering.
Our idea is inspired by the common memories of Kau Sai. Villagers have a folk wisdom to capture bigfin reef squids. They put a dead pandanus tree into the ocean, and squids treat it as a nest and gather around. This tradition creates a gathering spot for villagers to fish and share. The role of our artwork is like putting the pandanus tree. We want to gather and co-create the piece with villagers. The artwork is also an art space for the public to gather, and it includes an immersive experience that allows people to feel the story with multiple sensations and creates new common memories. So, we gather again under the Root of Squids.
I hope to contribute to my home village with the power of art. Meanwhile, the villagers feedbacked with care and warmth. It makes the project very meaningful.
Kelvin Ho Kau Sai Villager & Designer
In the main indoor art space, we aim to provide a multi-sensory immersive experience that allows viewers to interestingly observe the story of the squid migration. Visually, we present a dreamlike underwater scene through 3D animation, hoping to create an atmosphere of the ocean. Coupled with mirrored surfaces, when viewers enter the main area, it feels like stepping into a completely different world. Additionally, the space is filled with art squids made from iridescent materials that shimmer under the spotlight, displaying different colors from various angles. The art squids are fixed to a rotating structure, and when stirred by the wind, they gently rotate and sparkle, enhancing a dynamic visual experience.
Apart from visual, we also create experience of other senses to tell the story.
For tactile interaction, we have set up a fabric curtain installation that viewers must push aside with their hands to enter the space, mimicking the motion of swimming, thus drawing everyone into the underwater world. Additionally, we have created a seating area with some underwater stones, allowing viewers to stay and enjoy the experience.
A Co-created Design Element
Sound is also a crucial part of storytelling; We invited villagers to fish for squids with us and record their verbal histories. Their voices became the soundscape of the art space, allowing viewers to hear stories related to Kau Sai, the bigfin reef squids, and stories of “gather”..
Also, ambient sounds of the ocean were used as background to create a feeling of being underwater.
The entire art space was collaboratively created by the Kau Sai villagers. We hope to tell the story from their perspective. The theme and materials chosen resonate with their fishing customs. During the production process, villagers participated in selecting materials and sharing opinions, such as suggesting the look of the art squids to create more connections with the real bigfin reef squids, and recommending the “hanging squids under sunlight” activity to make the overall experience more complete.
