Sheung Wan

Back in the 70s, being a printing technician was a well earning profession. In pockets of Sheung Wan still remain a few printers, but many have closed down, or will in this coming year. Digital technology has changed the nature and speed of printing, and  rising rents are forcing printers to sell their machines and retire. This printer tells us how their machine is only for printing numbers (such as on memberships cards or receipts), their next door neighbour does the foiling, and another printer does the letters… It is truly a complex collaboration for even the most seemingly simple things. Paper products have become so disposable as a result of the speed and convenience of digital production. If our forests are to stand a chance of survival, perhaps we need to slow the process down again.