The workshop consists of two parts. In the first part, Pokfulam Village Ladies Workshop, an organization from Pokfulam village, is invited to demonstrate the production method of natural dye washi. They would show us the steps of extracting colours from local natural ingredients, with the applications of tie-dye techniques, to create Japanese Washi with favourite patterns drawn on it, which is ready to be pasted on the lantern’s structure afterwards.
The indigo dye used on the day has come from a wood called Indigofera tinctoria, which was planted by KidsClub together with us. A Taiwanese & Hong Kong dyeing artist ‘Giants Tie Dye’ has built a vat of indigo paste from the indigo dye, so that everyone would be able to appreciate the flow of natural colours on Japanese Washi.
The second part of the Workshop is led by Master Ng Kong Kin. You can learn some basic skills of crafting traditional bamboo lanterns, to create a lantern structure making use of bamboo strips, paper sticks and paste. Master Ng was born in Pokfulam Village, owning more than 40 years of experience in crafting Fire Dragon structures. He is an expert in utilizing materials of bamboo, grass, soil and steel wire for his creations.
As the final step of the Workshop, the air-dried natural dye Washi would be pasted on the lantern structure to create a unique lantern. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moment to celebrate reunion, let’s share with our families and friends this fruitful result of traditional hand crafting and natural dyeing.