Between the Lines – The Legends of Hong Kong Printing
1/F, Thematic Gallery 5
7 October 2020 – 26 July 2021
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Open Printshop
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Hong Kong Open Printshop
Curated by the Hong Kong Open Printshop
Can you imagine how books, posters, and other printed matters were made before the emergence of computerised typesetting and offset printing? "Between the Lines – The Legends of Hong Kong Printing" presents an array of interesting stories about two traditional printing methods: movable type and lithography. In addition to showcasing the lost art of traditional printing techniques, the exhibition illustrates how young designers are injecting their creative ideas into a new generation of printed products, reviving and transforming the tradition of movable type and letterpress printing.
The exhibition goes back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Robert Morrison left the UK and came to China as a missionary, where he led the development of letterpress printing in modern China. In those days, the "Ming typeface" designed by Anglo-Chinese College was known as the "Hong Kong Type" and was considered to be the most beautiful Chinese type. It was sold overseas and was used in The Chinese Classics, translated by James Legge, the English and Chinese Dictionary, with the Punti and Mandarin Pronunciation, compiled by Wilhelm Lobscheid, the Universal Circulating Herald, founded by Wang Tao, and The Self Educator, written by Johnson Sun to help Chinese labourers working in Australia learn English.
Lithography arrived in China in 1826 and became widely adopted within decades, as it was easier than woodblocks and cheaper than movable types. In 1884, Shen Bao issued the Dianshizhai Pictorial in Shanghai, the first image-based journal. This ushered in the new age of graphic storytelling, which was made possible by the introduction of lithography. By the 1930s, chromolithographic posters were a common sight. Thanks to the technology of colour separation, platemaking and subtractive processes, readers were introduced to vibrant colours in print and a more engaging visual experience.
Today, lithography has developed into offset printing, which is now the mainstream practice in the printing industry. Movable type printing is inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage. Many young people now aspire to revive traditional craftsmanship by exploring the possibilities of incorporating old printing techniques into contemporary designs.
Welcome to download the exhibition booklet
Online Programmes
Audio Drama
Welcome to listen to the following audio dramas to learn more about the legendary stories of Hong Kong printing industry.
1. "Giants of the Chinese Press – Wong Shing and Wang Tao" (Script)
2. "Spirit of the Hong Kong Typeface – Chan Sac-kin" (Script)
3. "Fly Colours – The Art of Kwan Wai-nung" (Script)
Exhibit Highlights
Lead matrices for "Hong Kong Type" from 1860 at the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, the Netherlands, and 2020 lead movable types recast by Foundation Type Foundry Westzaan.
"Hong Kong Type" lead movable type
1859 – 1909
Collection of Hong Kong Open Printshop
Donated by Drs Ronald Steur
Typesetting for letterpress printing can be a very demanding process. Each character, as well as the word and line spacing, must be laid out with lead blocks of type and spacing materials, requiring a high degree of precision.
The Heidelberg Windmill Platen Press, produced in Germany in the 1960s, was common in Hong Kong's letterpress printing workshops in the mid-20th century. This one, owned by the Hong Kong Open Printshop, is still functioning properly.
This wall has over 100,000 pieces of Chinese movable type. They are from Sun Sing Wedding Card Printing Press in Yuen Long and are now under the care of the Hong Kong Open Printshop. The type case on the side has multiple compartments, housing various lead borders, leadings, quads and English movable type.
Logo letterpress electrotype plates
Collection of Hong Kong Open Printshop
Donated by Master Lam On
Albion Press
1930s
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of History
Young designers inject their creative ideas to traditional printing. This card, printed by letterpress,
was designed by ditto ditto for the exhibitions.
Chromolithographic poster and its original drawing from the early 20th century
This chromolithographic poster, titled Far Eastern Grocery Store,
was printed by the Asiatic Lithographic Printing Press in 1926
Collection of Hong Kong Museum of History
Exhibition Shots
