What can local wood debris become?
At Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden (KFBG), trunks, branches and leaves generated through routine arboricultural care or passing storms are never treated as mere waste. Through KFBG’s wood recycling programme, these materials remain within the living landscape, supporting soil health, ecological balance and creative possibilities. Ripples & Pulses Between the Rings: Growth Ring x ALVDALEN Joint Woodcraft Exhibition is precisely this dialogue on rebirth and connection. We invite you to wander with us and discover how traditional Chinese craftsmanship, contemporary creations and ecological imagination spark a deeply moving resonance.
When small actions swell into warm ripples
The exhibition presents the graduation pieces of 12 apprentices from the Growth Ring programme, supported by the Chan Chong Charitable Foundation. Over six months of intensive woodworking training, these individuals, each coming from vastly different walks of life, came together through a shared reverence for wood. With hands feeling the grain and chisels carving every outline, they listened to the unique textures, cracks, and history of each reclaimed piece, seeking their answer to a simple question: “What can local wood debris become?”.
Material constraints never bound them. Instead, with patience and warmth, the apprentices put into practice the belief that even the smallest action can spark meaningful change, breathing new soul into every piece of timber. Each artwork tells a distinct story: a heartfelt tribute to the tree's life and a sincere offering to the land that sustained it.
Listening to the breath of the deep forest
Alongside the apprentices’ creations is Three Lives of Nature: The Pulse of the Forest, a conceptual installation by ALVDALEN, KFBG’s Artist-in-Residence for 2026–2027. KFBG’s Artist-in-Residence Programme uses art as a bridge to deepen our bond with nature and awaken an inner resonance. Using the owl – guardian of the forest – as a starting point, ALVDALEN guides our gaze through the canopy to illuminate the hidden web of life: from hollow trunks and saplings quietly sprouting beneath the trees, to the microscopic organisms tirelessly working deep within the soil.
Wood is never just wood
It records the elements, carries memories, imparts knowledge, and quietly sustains the endless cycle of renewal. As recycled wood, traditional heritage, modern craftsmanship, and ecological wisdom intertwine, we warmly invite you to join us. Come feel the warmth of the timber beneath your fingertips, rethink the value of our local resources, and discover how care, imagination and collective action can enable materials, communities, and ecosystems to flourish together in mutual support.
Artists
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2026-2027 Artist-in-Residence
Alvdalen｜Justin Chan, Vivian Law
Alvdalen Atelier was co-founded by the wood carving artist couple, Justin Chan and Vivian Law. They believe every piece of wood carries its own unique living memory. Drawing on their interest in nature, animals and different cultures, they combine traditional carving techniques with their own creative approach to produce inclusive and warm wood sculptures.
They focus on bringing artistic sculpture together with everyday living aesthetics. For this year’s artist-in-residence programme, they are working with fallen trees in the garden, transforming them through careful carving. Their aim is to encourage greater respect for both objects and the natural environment, helping people rediscover a gentler, more thoughtful way of living through the warm quality of wood.
About Growth Ring
As part of our routine tree management at Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, we sometimes need to prune or even remove certain trees. The timber, sourced from our own forests, possesses unique grain patterns that serve as an imprint of our local landscape. Unwilling to see this valuable material go to waste, we process the large volume of wood generated from our tree work through a dedicated Wood Recycling Programme, converting much of it into agricultural resources. Larger logs and timber are repurposed as materials for on-site facilities and Nature Art Programmes, and formed the foundation for Growth Ring: Empowering Wood Upcycling through Training and Innovation.
In this programme, participants first learn about tree species and wood processing from our experts. Veteran local artisans then teach traditional woodworking, furniture making and carving – skills recognised as Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage. Upon completion, participants become apprentices, gaining further experience as teaching and studio assistants, thus fulfilling the complete cycle of our Holistic Education philosophy.
Growth Ring Instructors: Siu Ping Keung, Lam Che, Jacky Lam
Growth Ring Apprentices: Man Tsz Him, Wong Shing Lung, Ng Sum Wai, Lam Pui See Lisa, Sze Mok Ham, Tsang Pak Kei, Tsang Hing Fai, Cheung Tsz Ki, Chan Wing Man, Tang Chung Yan, Cheng Siu Keung, Siu Shun Wai
Ripples & Pulses Between the Rings｜Growth Ring x ALVDALEN Joint Woodcraft Exhibition
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Dates: 30 September - 31 December 2026 |
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Ripples & Pulses Between the Rings | Exclusive Activities
(Note: Registration opening soon; please stay tuned.)
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Exhibition & Lower Area Tree Tour Date: 30 September - 31 December 2026 |
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The Vessel Within: Hand-carved Wooden Dish Workshop Date: |
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In Every Ring: Family Wooden Stool Workshop Date: |
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Carving Coexistence: Owl in the Tree Hollow Pen Holder Workshop Date: |
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Forest Rhythms: Owl Totem Pencil Family Carving Workshop Date: |
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Enquiry
Contact Ms Alice Lam at 2483 7276 during office hours or email alice.lam@kfbg.org
Related Links
- Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.
- Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.
- Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.
- Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
- Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.