Woodturner Margaret Kenny-Levick was instantly captivated by the natural beauty of Hong Kong

British-born woodturner Margaret Kenny-Levick has found rich inspiration in the green country parks of Hong Kong.

Living as she does at Sai Kung in the New Territories, the famed "lungs" of the city where the forest meets the sea, Ms Kenny-Levick is constantly amazed at the beauty that surrounds her.

"I have developed a true appreciation, some may say obsession, with a side of Hong Kong that many here and abroad are unaware of - namely, the huge areas of this inspirational place that are dedicated to country parks; the many magnificent tree specimens that thrive in these areas; and the pristine eco-systems that support them."

The potential of Hong Kong was immediately obvious to Ms Kenny-Levick, who runs MKL Design studio in Sai Kung. She has been turning wooden bowls, plates and ornaments for over a decade, but has also taught ceramics in Brussels, studied philosophy in Manchester, and was a youth and community worker in central London.

"When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I quickly became aware of the fact that, despite a thriving arts scene here, the applications and techniques of woodturning were virtually non-existent," she says.

"Despite the magnificent wooden antiques that have survived generations and are to found here in Hong Kong, there was such a long-held tradition of ceramic production that development of timber-related arts and crafts had all but vanished.

Inner beauty revealed

"Woodturning, unlike working with clay, allows the turner to work with the texture and idiosyncracies of the timber - a symbiotic relationship so to speak. You work to reveal the beauty of the wood."

During her early days in Hong Kong, Ms Kenny-Levick wandered the streets searching in vain for timber. Then one day, she spotted the large wooden chopping blocks sold in the traditional Chinese cookware shops of Shanghai Street in Mongkok - and before long, had turned them into bowls.

"Mong Kok is the main area in Hong Kong to buy small pieces of timber, woodworking tools, power tools and wood finishes," she continued. "My first real timber purchase was two huge planks of wonderful rosewood which cost a fortune.

"I then approached the Sai Kung Country Park rangers and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for known locations of storm damaged timber.
  
"When you start turning wood you never know what figurations or characteristics you may find inside a particular piece of timber. Every piece is different. It's a real journey of discovery, and as much related to the timber as your own ideas and designs.

"The inspiration for the pieces produced from Chinese mulberry and featured in my current exhibition actually came from a Chinese abstract painting, with the result that these pieces project a distinctly Asian shape and feel.

"Woodturning here in Hong Kong has been a journey of discovery and inspiration for me, from the beautiful and exotic timbers I have successfully sourced here to the many everyday influences to be drawn from living in a city such as Hong Kong, with its rich history and traditions."

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MKL Design