Urban Diary curated an exhibition on the ground floor of 246 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po, between 4 April and 4 May. Entitled "Tales of Sham Shui Po", the exhibition was a collection of day-to-day stories from current and former residents of Sham Shui Po, as well as regular visitors to the district. This exhibition documented their Sham Shui Po experiences through text, images, video and their own drawings. Sham Shui Po means many different things to these individuals: it is a park, a market, a walking trail, a treasure trove and an amusement ground. In Sham Shui Po, they can enjoy the view of Lion Rock, of Victoria Harbour and of airplanes flying over in the big blue sky. Many people consider the district to be their home; it is a place where experiences, both happy and unhappy, are accumulated and with time they transcend into valuable memories, and special traits can be found in those who have been molded by Sham Shui Po.

This exhibition is inspired by the people I've met. Foodie friends recommend their favourite eating haunts in Sham Shui Po. Techies know every inch of Golden Computer Arcade. Artists and craft lovers shop for colourful and inexpensive accessories and fabrics in the local bazaars. A former local soldier who used to be stationed in the British Garrison told me about his life in the Sham Shui Po Barracks during the 1967 riots. Sham Shui Po is also the birthplace of public housing in Hong Kong. Whenever I say the three words 'Sham Shui Po', my friends will either tell me they lived in the district at one point or they hang out there regularly. Gradually I formed the notion that every Hong Konger must somehow and at some point of our lives be connected to Sham Shui Po.

We're moving the "Tales of Sham Shui Po" exhibition to 9/F, Foo Tak Building, 365-367 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai between 15 and 18 May, to coincide with the vertical artist village there over the weekend.

For the May and June editions of Urban Diary, we'll be presenting selected highlights of the exhibition, which will include pictures from our photographer Tai Ngai-lung.