Hong Kong’s classic cha chaan teng culture captured in nostalgic exhibition

A shared love of photography and tea is the inspiration behind an exhibition of five artists now showing at the K11 Art Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Specifically, however, it is a Hongkonger’s idea of having tea – which is not much about the drink at all.

“Having ‘tea’ is never really about tea as a beverage, however great it may be,” says Enoch Ho, a photographer and the designated spokesperson for the group, about the exhibition titled “Jo Cha Photography Club”, which runs until November 23 in the mall’s How To Live Well store.

The five artists – Ho, Chan Kit, Jeremy Cheung, Hong and Maoshan Connie – met through different circles, with their first group meet-up at a dim sum spot in November last year. Now, they regularly meet for tea around the city, not just to create independent projects but to catch up as friends.
Visitors browse works at the “Jo Cha Photography Club” exhibition at the K11 Art Mall’s How To Live Well store. Photo: Eugene Lee
Visitors browse works at the “Jo Cha Photography Club” exhibition at the K11 Art Mall’s How To Live Well store. Photo: Eugene Lee
“[Tea] is just an excuse to meet – it brings people together, and these teahouses are places where community happens,” Ho says. “The ‘tea’, especially in cha chaan teng [or ‘tea restaurant’], also refers to a form of establishment that’s unique to Hong Kong: a blend of East and West, practically as no-nonsense as it gets, and the result is something that represents Hong Kong as a culture to a tee, or tea, pun intended.”

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