Hong Kong Tile Tale

香港瓷片轶事

In nearly every corner of Hong Kong, covering housing estates, MTR stations, markets, parks, cafes, and public infrastructure, is the small ceramic tile. As an embodiment of the civic experience of Hong Kong, the tile is iconic yet personal - at once convenient and attractive, miniscule and abundant, familiar and versatile. Hong Kong Tile Tale (香港瓷片轶事) honors this unsung hero of cladding, inviting the viewer on a handheld journey across the city as told by the tile. Tiles have been used in Hong Kong for decades due to their affordable cost, convenience of cleaning, and reliable performance as a water shield in this wet city. Yet as the tile has become an iconic element of the texture of Hong Kong, it has also become synonymous with outmodish and retro design taste. The tune of the tile is one that is somewhat nostalgic, forever referencing a Hong Kong of yesterday. It is seared into the backdrop of memories for those who call Hong Kong home.

Hong Kong Tile Tale (香港瓷片轶事) draws from the memories of Nils Axen’s time living in Hong Kong, unfolding three dimensional vignettes inspired by the diverse atmospheres of the city. Just as memories mix reality and imagination, so too does this book reference common tile patterns in settings that feel familiar though not precisely locatable.