The Man Who Attends to the Times
Author: Yim Sui Fong
Country: Hong Kong
Year: 2018
This is a series of 29 artist books. The books are composed with two timelines:
1971-2000: Untracing the story behind my father’s workplace – as 29-year caretaker of the Government Supplies Department (the predecessor of Oil Street Art Space). Searching through interviewing ex-colleagues and site visit, I recollect the history of this colonial government warehouse, which was virtually undocumented previously. The uncover of the meaning of the ↑ symbol found on government supplies connect the whole story.
2018 – 2046: I follow in my father’s footsteps, based on the tales of his daily commute. I compose the remainder of the book with documentation of the journey, using photo stickers representing that year observation and update one book annually. The ceremonial act of producing annual records creates a visual history of the city since the handover. The insertion of such personal documents gives a reinterpretation of the two timelines of history. Photography is not just an image here, it is more about an action; whereas the unique-edition book represents the monument of a father and a caretaker.