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went to the exhibition and picked up this heart- “First, I have to sit in a comfy chair under good light-
warming habit alongside her daughter. ing. Then, I need to clear my mind. After that, I will
choose a piece of paper I like to write in a preferred
“If I want to leave my kids a message before I sleep, manner. Ceremonial polity evokes a sense of ritual,”
I will write them a memo and put it on a desk,” the she says.
54-year-old housewife says.
To Ito, handwriting is more than a simple communi-
cation tool.

It’s not a basic need, it’s

like an enjoyment you

get out of it at the end of

the whole process

Hikoko Ito at the exhibition
(Photo by courtesy of Lung-tai Ngai) Ito believes handwriting reveals the writer’s emotion
The messages are reminders of breakfast in the oven and state of mind, so handwritten creations are more
or rice cooker, and greetings like “Have a happy school expressive and intense. “When you write, you infuse
day, fighting!” the note with emotional energy and it is almost like
giving a piece of yourself away,” she says.
“I actually look forward to their replies. If I WhatsApp
them, it is very likely that I will just see blue ticks or a Assistant professor Yang Tian from the School of
sticker,” Suen says. Journalism and Communication of the Chinese Uni-
versity of Hong Kong points out that handwriting al-
The 54-year-old believes that handwritten notes help lows us to step away from the hyper-digital world.
her identify the most important people in life whom
she would write to. “The act of picking a card is al- “Typewriting allows you to edit before sending. But
ready a contribution of one’s time. Then you also have it is hard for people to edit handwriting unless you
to spend time thinking and writing,” she says. rewrite. Therefore, the writer is more mindful of the
content written,” Yang says.
Ito has similar thoughts. “The whole experience starts
way earlier than the moment you have your first word “This form allows users to slow down, which pre-
written down. The moment of creativity starts way be- vents the abuse of technologies that are pervasive in
fore that,” she says. our daily lives,” the research specialist in digital media
adds.
“The whole process brings you joy more than you ever
Edited by Charmaine Choi
noticed. You miss out a lot in life if you have never E d it e d b y C h ar m aine C ho i
Vic
y
e
d
b
i
a
F
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ong
or
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ub
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experienced such moments of happiness,” the artist Sub-edited by Victoria Fong
adds.
Hikoko Ito sees sending out handwritten blessings
as a step-by-step ritual that has to be proceeded with
care.