Recently some lucky members of our team at Whitespace became his students, and are learning the basics of calligraphy at a weekly session. The lesson started off with their Chinese name, which they write in big, bold, ink-filled strokes.

He is patient, funny and generous man, teaching them the philosophy of Chinese writing and the story behind each character. These classes have really inspired the team and makes them appreciate and love Chinese writing!

The hardcover book, is beautifully designed and tells the story of their family and how Irene’s late husband, Dr. Liem, loved to cook. When he passed away, Irene spent every day for a year, in the kitchen, cooking his recipes from her memory, as he had never written any of them down and invited their friends over to share stories, and to taste his cooking. We decided that afternoon to see how we could promote the book, and we began a dialogue to put together a small event and host a lunch for friends in Hong Kong.

The result of a few months planning and numerous email exchanges resulted in three days of shopping, preparation — chopping vegetables, making spring rolls and grilling satays ahead of the cooking demonstration and lunch on Sunday April 14th. The lunch featured recipes from the cookbook. Guests arrived at Salon No. 10 and enjoyed a casual lunch with dishes such as Gado Gado (mixed vegetable salad and peanut sauce), Bakmie Goreng (Dr. Liem’s Hokkien noodles), Babi Kecap (Braised pork in sweet soy sauce) and Sayur Asam (Sour Vegetable Soup). It was a lovely way to spend a Sunday.

Special thanks to Paola and Ignacio of Tangram, and to Alex and Ellis of Moustache for their support and enthusiasm for this event. Thanks as well to all our friends and guests who attended the lunch. We hope you enjoyed it!

A Romance with Indonesian Cooking is a mother and daughter collaboration. Together they used their writing, photography and design to capture the story of two people: Irene, the mother, and Dr BK Liem, the (late) husband and father, whose love of good food, and love of each other, inspired them to cook and present the dishes they loved. Irene’ and BK’s pathways may have been different but it was the human spirit and determination that made their respective dreams come true.

The book comes in two parts, the first detailing Dr Liem’s family history and his journey from his humble beginnings in Indonesia, through to communist China during the Cultural Revolution and finally, to starting a new life as a practising doctor in Australia. The second part relates how Irene, his wife from Hong Kong, who did not know how to cook Indonesian dishes, attempted and succeeded in bringing alive the much loved recipes he cooked for his family and friends.

A Romance with Indonesian Cooking — What Dr Liem Ate at Home by Irene Liem. Design and photography by Lilian Liem @2012

We have limited copies of the book for sale at the studio. If anyone is interested in purchasing a book (HK$250), please contact us at info@whitespace.hk for more information and details.

Mixed in with the US Postal Service Team, Hong Kong Taxis, Words with Friends, Pure Fitness instructors and morph suits, Team LEGO stood out in their boxy outfits and realized that the bright yellow head served as a target as well as offered some protection from the rampant beer tossing happening all over the stands.

Here are some of the highlights of our Sevens, from transforming some basic household objects into one of the most iconic costumes at the event. LEGO will never look the same to us!

seaboard from http://www.weareroli.com/

The project is established by a group of Creatives & students in Hong Kong. They picked a spot, exhibited & sold what creative things they did,  as means to promote Hong Kong’s unique night market culture. Owing to Hong Kong’s rapid urban development, the traditional night market is rarely seen here. It is good to have some people step up to do something, in order to conserve this culture, especially in Hong Kong who is always called as “culture desert”.

During my walk at the night market, I heard so many hawkers saying,

“Why is it so crowded tonight? What happened?”

“WOAH, I am so happy to see the revival of Sham Shui Po! Sham Shui Po forever!”

I believe the Night Market Project’ curators have made a big step!

The crowds were checking Creative City‘s map, conceived & developed by Whitespace founder Danielle Huthart and former journalist Louise Wong.

German photographer Michael Wolf has a <<Window Watching>> project which he photographed how people’ lives through the window from his apartment in Hong Kong. Though it is not a breakthrough project, I feel so familiar with this, probably because I was born & raised in Hong Kong, I always live in skyscraper and I can always see what my “neighbors” doing in opposite building, especially in concrete jungle Hong Kong.

However, thinking of privacy issue, our Master Confucius’s wise say has come up in my mind,

“Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.”

What do you think? ; )

Cold! Danger! Hungry! Tired!  Who care? All mountaineers need to face in the winter summit. We just looking at the same aim – the summit 1708m!

Camping in snow.

Bivy in snow.

Thanks for the good weather, we successfully finished the summit easier and safely.

Waterfall ice climbing after summit assault. Cold and exacting!

How It Feels [through Glass]