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01: Cheung’s first
product – Boombottle;
02: Rice bell (Photo
courtesy of Cheung);
03: Cheung provides
life-warranty for his
02 03 products

movements and environmental pro- “No matter how it (the movement) “I think they (customers) are not
tection. He cites new initiatives fol- ends, this time it should lead to good just buying the products.” He believes
lowing the Umbrella Movement, such changes,” Cheung says. every material carries its own story,
as “Waste-no-mall”（不是垃圾站） which becomes the foundation for his
in Yuen Long and the “No More Junk A storyteller and a dreamer design.
Bay”（正澳） in Tseung Kwan O. The upcycling designer prefers to “Interesting thing about waste
He says, “[The movement] has gath- be named as storyteller. “When you is that it’s always related to the city.
ered a lot of people who are willing to work with a lot of waste materials, a Something happens in the city, that
change the society. So that actually lot of stories behind... it kind of grabs kind of waste is produced,” Cheung
became a big momentum to continue onto you.” He compares his work with says. He notes these stories are what
to change in the society when they the Blue House — one of the histori- entertain and surprise people. “The
go back to the communities and recy- cal landmarks in Hong Kong, which surprise on the[ir] face[s] keeps me go-
cling is one of the changes.” is also where he resides. “It’s an old ing.”
Cheung re-creates his thumbnail architect[ure].
piano using newly collected umbrellas The city thinks
used by protesters in the anti-extradi- it is useless and Interesting thing about waste
tion law amendment bill movement. old but once
The thumbnail piano plays notes to you renovate is that it’s always related to the city.
“Do you hear the people sing?” and it, it becomes a Something happens in the city, that
“Glory to Hong Kong”, the two an- modern, stylish
thems frequently sung by movement living space. It’s kind of waste is produced,
supporters, which give a special mean- a similar meta-
ing to the piano. phor,” he notes.
Cheung says he has achieved his
ultimate goal as he enjoys doing what
he is doing. But he still hopes to see
“what end up in bins can end up on
shop shelves and start all over again”
in the near future.

Edited by Jasmine Ling

The thumbnail
piano made
from umbrella
ribs Cheung
collected in
recent protests