HONG KONG: Barbie dolls, piggy banks, aircraft models ... are they merely diversions for children? Multi-media artist Joel Chung Yin-chai, who is the organizer of the toy exhibition "Local Toys Rock us 60 Years" that opens on July 25, says toys are much more than diversions for youthful minds: they are part of the history and culture of a place.

Chung himself can not describe precisely how he earns his living. "My duties include university lecturer, photographer, writer of books about Kowloon Emperor Tsang Tsou Choi and so on. Everything I do relates to culture," said Chung.

Chung's connection to toys started with his visit to Japanese toy collector Teruhisa Tikahara's Toy Museum while studying abroad in Japan in 1986.

"The toy museum was like a time tunnel, bringing me back to my childhood. Pieces of precious childhood memories sprang up in my head," said Chung, when recalling how he started collecting toys.

At the beginning, Chung collected toys from all over the world, randomly. His approach toward toy collecting changed entirely after he became Tikahara's student in 1991.

"He taught me the difference between being a famous collector and a successful collector. To be a famous collector is easy, because all you need is just a host of money and mountains of expensive collections," Chung said. "But to be a successful collector, you must know clearly about the historical background of your collections."

After that Chung focused solely on collecting toys made in Hong Kong and the mainland only. "Because I know my place best," he said.

Asked which his favorite was, Chung said without hesitation, "I like them equally. They're all of historical value."

Apart from being pieces of Hong Kong's commercial history, the dolls of the 60s and 70s highlighted fashion trends. Life-like action figures of soldiers revealed the garb and equipment of soldiers during World War II. Piggy banks originally were gifts to children from banks, to encourage kids to open bank accounts.

Chung's core intent, while organizing the exhibition, was to offer insight to today's kids, who have their own modern favorite toys. Through toys from a past era, kids learn something of their hometown: how Hong Kong developed and prospered and how their parents contributed to that development.

"Children can never learn these from textbooks," Chung emphasized.

The exhibition will be held from July 25 to August 8 at L2 of Sunshine City, Ma On Shan. Spectators are encouraged to bring their used toys and donate them to the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association Sham Shui Po Integrated Social Service Centre.

(HK Edition 07/28/2009 page1)