In Cantonese, there is a colloquial term “走堂” which means a student is absent without permission, yet in Hong Kong, a professor was forced to “走堂”. Two years later, he founded an online education platform and named it “走堂”, carrying on the cultural and artistic heritage of Hong Kong across time and space.
Going back to two and a half years ago, Professor Wong Chiu-tat of Baptist University was in his office preparing for class on a Thursday. Without time to bid farewell or tidy up the office, he boarded a flight to the UK on Monday, December 6, 2021. Little did he expect that after recording students “走堂” in the past, he would become a “走堂” teacher himself. In February this year, Wong Chiu-tat founded the online education platform “走堂”, bringing together a group of dispersed artists and teachers, breaking the traditional education model, and passing on Hong Kong culture and art in a different form.
Reflecting on his departure from Hong Kong two years ago, Wong Chiu-tat remarked, “As for leaving the city of Hong Kong, I always say it’s not us leaving Hong Kong, it’s Hong Kong leaving us.”
The renowned political cartoonist Wong Chiu-tat, who once served as an assistant professor in the visual arts department at Baptist University, left Hong Kong in December 2021 due to an unpublished educational research that triggered his departure. The school reported to the police, alleging his academic research on protest propaganda during the 2019 Hong Kong democracy movement, prompting a “security investigation.” Upon learning of this, he hastily departed from Hong Kong, reluctantly becoming a “走堂” professor.
“From the moment I decided to leave Hong Kong, I had only four days, hastily bought a plane ticket, and left four days later. During that time, when I just arrived in the UK, I felt as if I was still in class with my students the previous week. I was wondering why I was here, it was a surreal feeling, very difficult to accept.” Wong Chiu-tat had been teaching at Baptist University for over a decade and drawing political cartoons in newspapers for over ten years, suddenly leaving Hong Kong for the UK felt like all the achievements accumulated over the years in Hong Kong vanished overnight.
Though leaving Hong Kong was part of his future plans, he had hoped for a proper farewell where he could compile his comic works into a book before leaving. However, the day arrived early, forcing him to depart before his book was published. From 2020 to 2021, he had a column in the newspaper called “This City,” drawing topical political cartoons, documenting the social situation in Hong Kong during the pandemic and after the implementation of the National Security Law – serving as a testimony of an era.
Upon arriving in the UK, he established a relationship with a publishing house in Taiwan, gaining opportunities for publication. At that time, he changed the title of his book from “This City” to “That City,” symbolizing both leaving and viewing Hong Kong from a different perspective.
Initially experiencing a period of despondency in the UK, with his family not yet there, and transitioning abruptly from a busy teaching schedule, drawing became his way of “healing.”
Wong Chiu-tat once depicted a scene from the 2019 march where people held up placards with no words, entitled “If I Could Continue Walking with You.” He believed this piece was important, signifying that regardless of physical proximity, individuals continue on the same path.
He started a new segment titled “Daily Wish” on his Instagram, where he would draw a piece daily, speaking to himself and encouraging himself.
Through these works, Wong Chiu-tat moved beyond the satire and critique frames of political cartoons, infusing more humanistic care.
“At this stage, political cartoons are not as critical; I feel the need for works that can touch our souls. Thus, I decided to shift in that direction, focusing on creating more emotionally sensitive pieces. Through cartoons, he believed it served as a bridge – in newspaper columns, social media, and exhibitions – to allow viewers to intuitively understand his emotions.
One of his artworks post-emigration depicted a typical British man holding two bags in his hands – one side with a red and white plastic bag, the other side with the Union Jack. Wong explained that the red and white bags symbolized Hong Kong, with the Union Jack also consisting of red and white. He expressed the struggle of Hong Kong individuals adapting to life in the UK while maintaining their identity, showcasing the challenges they faced.
Even Westerners without direct experience of Hong Kong, upon viewing his works, could grasp the sentiment. Wong emphasized that each artwork conveyed emotions and connections that went beyond words.
In the recent wave of departures from Hong Kong, Wong Chiu-tat was just one among many artists and friends from the education sector leaving the city. Some had even shifted away from pursuing educational careers. He found it regrettable, acknowledging everyone possessed their “treasure” – a wealth of teaching experience and an unyielding passion to unite like-minded individuals moving forward.
Wong Chiu-tat had a brilliant idea, realizing that amid the pandemic, teachers had accumulated a vast experience with online teaching. Thus, he innovated by launching an online arts learning platform – “走堂,” aiming to reconnect dispersed students and teachers.
“I believe art forms can help us navigate through significant eras, especially when many friends have left Hong Kong. This period serves as an opportunity to rethink their life paths. Instead of solely dedicating time to work, why not allocate some effort to learning art? This can provoke deeper contemplation.”
While art may not be a necessity for life, Wong Chiu-tat believed it encapsulated Hong Kong people’s values. Introducing courses on the platform was also an experiment, departing from the traditional education approach. Unlike universities with stable enrollments, this platform shattered age boundaries, offering a novel teaching method for educators to learn from each other as equals.
After three months of operation, the “Lyric Creation Workshop” on “走堂” quickly became filled to capacity. Cantonese songs once dominated the Mandarin music scene, with lyrics evolving into colloquial expressions and uplifting “golden phrases” during times of loss, significantly impacting Hong Kong’s popular culture. Wong Chiu-tat referenced a recent popular Hong Kong film, “Lyrics Writer L,” portraying the story of lyricists chasing dreams. He believed lyrics embodying Hong Kong’s values deserved preservation as cultural art.
Wong Chiu-tat shared, “I feel that Cantonese songs had been slightly overlooked in recent years; however, they are undergoing a resurgence now. If you pay attention, lyrics play a crucial role, especially in expressing the sentiments of Hong Kong residents over the years. Many songs have resonated with people in Cantonese music, hitting home with their emotions.”
“We always adhere to Hong Kong people’s beliefs, each person choosing their way of persistence. As an artist, a cartoonist, my direct avenue of persistence is through my works. For example, ‘走堂’ is one form of persistence.” He believed Hong Kong culture had accumulated many positive aspects over the years, bearing the responsibility to pass it on to the next generation.
Although physically distant from Hong Kong, Wong Chiu-tat remained committed to expressing his concern for Hong Kong through his comic works, conveying the unwavering spirit of Hongkongers. He also hoped to transmit the torch of artistic culture through the “走堂” platform to more friends who care about Hong Kong.
From a fishing village to a metropolis, Hong Kong harbors outstanding talents. Some say Hong Kong is a paradise for adventurers and a harbor for wisdom and diligence. The civilization, courage, and resilience of Hong Kong people have demonstrated immense tolerance and warmth in critical moments. “Hong Kong people” represent a spirit that continues to shine regardless of the corner of the world, embodying exceptional individuals who have enriched Hong Kong’s culture and spirit. Witnessing the all-new program “Drifting Legends,” delve into the stories of significant figures and ordinary individuals of the present, sharing their legendary lives.
For the full content of this issue of “Drifting Legends,” please watch it online.
——Produced by the “Drifting Legends” Production Team