Hong Kong Stories - Centennial Stories (English Version) Series 51：Printed Matters in Life

Printed matters have become an inseparable part of our life, and they were essential carriers of cultural heritage and records in the last century. Since early 20th century, Central and Sheung Wan have been filled with shops and companies. The flourishing commercial activities had generated a great demand in printed matters such as invoices and contracts, and that gave rise to many small and medium-sized printing workshops. From typesetting to printing, from paper cutting to binding, they all depend on skillful printing workers. Experienced workers work hard in front of the printing machines, with their hands often stained with ink. Master LAM On was one of them. He started working as an apprentice, and has witnessed the rises and falls of the printing industry until he retired.

Movable type printing was replaced by the more time-saving and convenient offset printing in the 1980s. It has faded inevitably and those movable type printing machines were then abandoned. At the same time, the imperative drive of technology gave multiple hits to the printing industry. With physical printed matters being replaced by computer image files, and people getting used to replace papers with e-books, digital business cards and e-cards, physical printing seemed to be a sunset industry. Nevertheless, some young people still buck the trend and join the industry as a new force, believing that industry transformation can be achieved by incorporating more design elements to printed matters.

Designer Loraine WONG considers that traditional printing is more ingenious and having a greater human touch than digital printing, which operates like a production line. Therefore, she became a student of Master LAM On to learn about the techniques in movable type printing. Apart from reflecting on how to incorporate traditional techniques into modern arts to make cultural and creative products, she also hopes to make printed matters of tactility and passion in the digital world.

Although living in an era of rapid digitalisation, through printed matters, we can still understand the past, feel the present and explore the future. One has to wonder what kind of culture is awaiting in a century’s time.