“Homes” is an interactive installation, which shows the exact, detailed virtual copy of the interior of three Tai O fishermen's family houses. The visitor can walk through, look around, and examine details of the interiors by using a simple computer interface. In the present version of the installation, three interiors can be viewed simultaneously on three monitors, installed side by side.
In Tai O Fishing Village, there are many similar family houses along the main street. These are generally two-storey houses. The ground floor consists of only one room and a staircase to the upper floor. The room is a simple cube, and the front wall is one large shutter, very much like in shop showcases. During the day, the shutter is pulled aside, and the room is completely open to the street. It is like the stage of a small theatre, and the passers-by are the public. The interior design of each house is unique, and usually very eclectic. But the interior space as a whole is aesthetic and functional.
In this project, I built up the exact virtual 3D copy of three such homes, with the permission of the owners and with the help of my research assistants. To make an exact copy of the homes, we had to shoot hundreds of photos, taking a picture of every object from at least three different angles. Based on these photos, we designed the 3D models of each object in the houses, then used the original photos as a texture map. The final result can be seen as a three-dimensional photo montage, with the photos of the original objects placed on precisely designed surfaces, in their proper place and with precise dimensions.
My intention with this work is threefold:
I want to use cutting-edge computer technology to visualise working class people's homes. Usually, such computer technology is used only to simulate “famous” or “historical” or “important” buildings. Generally, there is no interest in documenting and preserving the contemporary environment of the working class, although these are just as important a part of a culture as its public buildings.
With such a precise copy of the interior, I think the viewer gets an impression of the homeowner, even if s/he does not appear in the work directly. We can get an idea of the owner's habits, societal position, age, and so on.
As I watch the rapid development of Hong Kong, I assume these houses will disappear soon. This project will preserve – at least in a virtual way – the exact view of these homes. Therefore, this is also a culture heritage project.