SPIKE AND
HIS FRIENDS
JOANNA TANG
Joanna Tang, a UK registered architect, had practiced in both London and Hong Kong. Her education at the Architecture Association, London (AA) fused art concepts with architecture. Philosophy, as a master degree, was further explored at UCL, London. In 2017, she took short courses at the Hong Kong Visual Art Center (vA) taught by Antonio Wong and Christine Blom. Since 2009, she was trained under Chris Lo and King Fung at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop, Joanna had engaged with projects like, “Lid & Vessels”, “Cobo X Paws in Wu”. “Spike” has been a recurring subject and inspiration in her work since 2010, the works took on a more focused turn in 2016 when she started creating dog sculptures.
HUNG WAI TANG
Trained as an architect at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) as well as the AA, H.W. has a passion in arts and folkcraft. He founded Mountain Folkcraft shop with his wife, Agnes. Mountain Folkcraft specializes in folk arts and crafts from various parts of Asia, especially China. Many items in the shop, from jewellery to clothing are designed by H.W. He has devoted his time in Chinese architectural research and had built many specialised houses, one being the Courtyard House in Beijing in 1998. Apart from architecture and interior design, H.W. is also a Chinese calligrapher and installation artist. He started his ceramic training at Cobo Ceramic Workshop under Chris Lo and King Fung in 2015.
AGNES TANG
Also Trained at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), Agnes is one of the earliest registered female architects as well as an Authorized Person in Hong Kong. She and her husband H.W. spend a lot of time studying traditional Chinese architecture. Collabrated with H.W., the Courtyard House in Beijing was built using traditional techniques, with modified modern details. The pair is preparing a book on the fundamental of a typical Chinese courtyard house. Agnes also has a deep passion for arts and folkcraft and has travelled to many exotic countries with her husband and daughter to bring back curious objects for their shop. Painting has always been a passion for Agnes, in 2017, she joined the vA short courses taught by Lam Kong and Wong Chun-hei.
SYLVIA NG
Sylvia Ng, a landscape designer, has practiced over 18 years in Hong Kong. Since 2013, she started teaching landscape architecture at HKDI and THEi. She was trained originally at Penn State U and obtained her Master degree at UC Berkeley. After practicing for a few years, she went to the AA to fulfil her interest in the integration of landscape and architecture in the built environment. Since 2015, she started taking special landscape and interior projects under Poadesign. Sylvia is trained under Chris Lo and King Fung since 2009 at the Cobo Ceramic Workshop. She has witnessed the growing up of Spike since he arrived in the box from New Zealand. She has two cats, B and G.
SPIKE
Spike is a Sealyham Terrier from Tentyne Sealyhams in Waikato, New Zealand. Despite being fathered by Samson (aka Ch. Tiki Tour of Tentyne) - a show dog who won numerous championships. Spike has a unique black tail and could only be a pet dog. He roams around Macdonnell Road and Kennedy Road in Hong Kong. Apart from being pampered by the family, he is also the subject of many art works.
SEALHAM TERRIER
Sealyham Terrier, also known as Sealy by Sealyham owners, is a medium size terrier. The breed was developed for hunting, especially for badgers in the 19th century by Captain John Edwardes at the Sealyham House in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The Sealyham terrier is a cross between Dandi Dinmont, Fox Terriers, West Highland Terrier and Corgi. The white coat helps the hunters to distinguish the dog from the prey, its short legs made the Sealy an ideal digger while its loud and deep bark keeps the prey in place till the hunters arrive.
The Sealyham Terriers were once a very popular pet, royalty and celebrities owners included King George V, Princess Margaret, Agatha Christie, Alfred Hitchcock, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, Humphry Bogart and Jean Harlow. In the 1920s, there were more than 2000 puppies registered with the UK Kennel Club. However, by 2008 puppies registration fell to 43 and the Sealyham Terrier became the bottom 3 in the most endangered breeds in the UK Kennel Club’s Vulnerable Native Breeds List. The decline in numbers might be attributed to the hunting sports becoming less popular. It is now easier to meet an endangered tiger than a Sealyham Terrier.
The Sealy is an ideal pet dog in Hong Kong, unlike other working dogs that are restless without a job, the Sealyham Terrier is known as the couch potato of terriers. They are happy staying in a small flat, laying around while you watch tv and just as happy to be a running partner.