Happy Valley (2024) traces the worlds within worlds that exist inside Hong Kong’s iconic landscape and British namesake. From dawn to dusk, the lives of its inhabitants are intertwined with the valley’s historic foundations. We encounter these layered histories like a spectre floating in, around and through places – visiting and resting on the shoulders of communities via hidden doorways. Surrendering to the moments, we witness a sunrise over the valley, a morning tram commute, a Buddhist monastery, a Jewish cemetery, a historic girls school, a Hindu temple, a homeless outreach, a trail of World War Two pillboxes, a forgotten poet’s home, and a Catholic Church ceremony.    

How did Happy Valley become what it is today? I examine this question through the intersection of place, community and time. My two films and a soundscape installation of diverse field recordings show alongside multimedia presentations including an interactive topographic model, documentary films of the 1930s, the 1970s, as well as rarely seen historic photos and maps revealing the interwoven experience and everyday relationships that people have with Happy Valley. The interpretation highlights the cultural connections with the landscape, as well as the values and meanings that have been built upon, then and now.