How sustainable wood furniture maker in Hong Kong turns fallen trees into unique pieces
At the inaugural exhibition of the Tzu Chi Environmental Action Centre in Hong Kong's Tai Wai neighbourhood in 2021, one particular installation stood out: a school of more than 100 suspended sharks made from wood that had been entirely salvaged.
It was an effective and subtle way to convey the message from its creator, Lam Che, that trees and sea creatures share space with those who use and discard them with little thought.
Lam, who is in his mid-60s, began salvaging fallen trees and construction waste in 2003, repurposing them in his Kwun Tong studio. He predominantly collects fallen camphor trees and old Thai teak that was once popular in colonial home furnishings.
As Hong Kong enters its typhoon season, Lam is about to get busy again.
Lam stands with his installation of more than 100 sharks made from salvaged wood at the Tzu Chi Environmental Action Centre in Tai Wai. Photo: K.Y. Cheng
Fallen trees are packed with moisture and require two to three years to dry out enough to sculpt into art and furniture pieces. Lam makes mostly stools and tabletop accessories such as radio and jewellery cabinets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
This week in PostMag: the art of tiles, getting lost in translation, and a marathon star
This week's main feature is a lesson in how almost every quotidian – might I say, boring – detail actually holds a fascinating story. You've been to many a cha chaan teng, but how often have you given any thought to the mismatched tiles plastering the walls? For artist Adrian Wong Ho-yin, Hong Kong's off-kilter tiles became the inspiration for his current show at Oil Street Art Space in North Point. He describes how these ceramic pieces evoked the feeling of 'looking through a wormhole into the past' to Christopher DeWolf, who then dives headfirst into the design element's history. 'Tiles, really?' you might still be saying. I promise it's a good one. One detail from the story I found intriguing is how builders often layer new tiles on top of old to save time and money, creating the 'wormhole into the past' Wong mentions. I also loved his line, 'Laziness plus a couple of generations becomes charm.' Truly, so much of Hong Kong's undeniable charm is in the remnants of the past, all plain to see if you just look. Equally layered is the art of translation. Karen Cheung finds there's a new generation of eager literary translators tackling the monumental quest of Chinese-to-English translation, particularly for works by Hong Kong authors. I've dabbled in translation from Mandarin to English, with nothing so ambitious as fiction or poetry, and it's no joke. It's a terribly hard task that one young translator notes is especially difficult because Chinese and English are further apart in so many ways, grammatically or otherwise, than other languages might be. I'm impressed by their tenacity, determination and passion. Ultra-marathoner Sunmaya Budha brings those same qualities to the trail. The Nepalese native speaks to Bibek Bhandari about her unlikely journey from the mountainous countryside to running (and winning) international races around the world. As someone who deeply despises running, it's inspirational to say the least. Let me know if you feel moved to lace up your trainers after reading it. Writer and photographer Daniel Allen heads to the American West where he learns about the rewilding of Yellowstone National Park, a programme that has led to a flourishing of the park's animal population. It sounds majestic to behold, though as ever, take care and respect nature – I did also read this week that a bison gored a tourist who got too close there.
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Your perfect week: what to do in Hong Kong, June 15-21
Eat this Qura Bar Tagliolini topped with Prunier's Osciètre Caviar at Qura Bar in Hong Kong. Photo: Qura Bar Caviar tasting sheds its formal cloak this summer at Regent Hong Kong's Qura Bar. Against the backdrop of art deco glamour and harbour views, Prunier's sustainably sourced Osciètre Caviar is served in bar bites as part of a four-course menu until July 31, and dishes such as onsen egg with vodka sauce and tagliolini with lemon confit pair perfectly with mixologist Gennaro Pucci's inventive cocktails. Advertisement Regent Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Do this Ko Shan Fest Music producer Carl Wong. Photo: courtesy Ko Shan Fest Curated by music director Carl Wong, the festival's two concerts bring together local bands such as The Hertz, Mr, NiLiu and Instinct of Sight, alongside special collaborations with artists such as Jun Kung , at the Ko Shan Theatre on June 20 and 21. With free pre-concert talks offering insights into the city's musical journey, it's the perfect chance to connect with Hong Kong pop culture. 77 Ko Shan Rd, Hung Hom. Tickets from HK$380 from Drink this Magnolia Lab Magnolia Lab's fifth-anniversary pop-up at Tai Wo Tang. Photo: Magnolia Lab This month, contemporary Cantonese liquor brand Magnolia Lab celebrates its fifth anniversary with an apothecary-inspired pop-up bar at the Tai Wo Tang cafe in Kowloon City, itself housed in a former Chinese medicine shop. From June 18 to 21, the cafe will serve cocktails using the brand's Roselle and Magnolia liqueurs, designed by mixologist Matthew Lau Wai-yip, while DJ duo Beat Friday have arranged a nostalgic playlist of Cantonese tunes from the 1940s to the 70s. 24 Nga Tsin Long Road, Kowloon City See this Extravaganza! Kids from SDM dance school promote Hong Kong's Brazilian festival. Photo: Nora Tam
South China Morning Post
20 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
‘I am numb': Blackpink fans left devastated as Hong Kong concerts sell out fast
Tickets for K-pop sensation Blackpink's concerts in Hong Kong sold out in a little more than an hour and a half of going on general sale, leaving many fans disappointed. Advertisement A Post reporter visited the ticket booking platform Cityline when sales opened on Friday at 11am. However, by noon, the wait time on the loading page, of more than an hour, had not shortened, while only limited tickets remained. By around 12.40pm all tickets for the two scheduled shows at Kai Tak Stadium on January 24 and 25 next year, were sold out. The Post also observed around a dozen people attempting to secure tickets at an internet cafe in Causeway Bay, representing about half of the customers present. Many arrived as early as an hour before the 11am sale began to secure a computer and were utilising multiple browser tabs. Some fans also used other personal devices, such as tablets and mobile phones. All of them told the Post that they believed the internet access at the cafe was superior, potentially offering a better chance of joining the queue sooner. Advertisement The hourly rate for computer rentals, typically used for gaming, was HK$16 (US$2) at the cafe. The Post was unable to confirm any successful purchases from the group of fans, with most leaving the venue around noon.
