OCT-LOFT bazaar meets Macao market

Over the past weekend, the T-Street Creative Mart, an iconic market in Shenzhen featuring trendy gifts, stylish accessories, and unique crafts, held a special event in partnership with Macao’s Tap Siac Craft Market at the bustling OCT-LOFT in Nanshan District.

The event, named “TicTAc,” was part of Shenzhen’s Creative December activities and brought together 90 vendors from Shenzhen and Macao. The bazaar also included live music, craft workshops, cultural salons, and pop-up stores selling Macao fashion garments to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland.

With 16 years of history, the T-Street Creative Mart and the Tap Siac Craft Market serve as platforms for local artisans and designers to showcase their creativity. These markets not only build a sense of community but also contribute significantly to promoting the local creative culture.

Visitors wander at the “TicTAc” bazaar, a collaboration between Shenzhen’s T-Street Creative Mart and Macao’s Tap Siac Craft Market, at OCT-LOFT in Nanshan District on Saturday. Courtesy of the organizers

Macao designer Sam Kin Hang brought his Ho Sio Chong dolls and other merchandise to the weekend bazaar. Ho Sio Chong is a character resembling a red-eared terrapin born without a shell. In Sam’s creation, Macao snacks such as egg tarts, almond cakes, and pineapple buns can be the terrapin’s shell, and Sam said he aims to encourage people to embrace their imperfections and build self-confidence.

During a cultural salon held Saturday, Sam shared that, as a budding animator, he has created several animated films about Ho Sio Chong. However, finding opportunities to screen his work is difficult, so attending exhibitions and markets has helped him connect with more people and increase his brand’s visibility.

Au Chon Hin, another Macao designer renowned for his forward-thinking and bold visions, showcased his visually striking poster designs at OCT-LOFT over the weekend.

“In OCT-LOFT, I see so many people engage in cultural exchanges through markets and events in this creatively inspired environment. Shenzhen and Macao offer ample cultural inspiration for designers, indicating opportunities for creation and cultural cooperation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA),” he said during Saturday’s salon.

On Sunday, two more designers from Macao led workshops on soap crafting and designing refrigerator magnets inspired by Portuguese tile patterns.

Looking ahead, OCT-LOFT will host the “One and One” design lecture series between Dec. 21 and 22, which will focus on young designers in the GBA. Xu Weixin from Guangzhou, Lobbin Lau from Shenzhen, Toby Ng from Hong Kong, and Kenneth Ho from Macao will share their insights at the A3+ space in the North Area.

In addition, light-based artwork will illuminate the Shenzhen Wall in the South Area at night. Designs by members of the Shenzhen Graphic Design Association will be on display at the “LOFT can” space starting from Dec. 15.