Interview | Macau oral history association head Laura Lei: ‘Cultural and creative industry is not only limited to handicraft items’

Laura Lei

Laura Lei, who heads the Oral History Association of Macau, identifies a parallel between the work of an historian and that of a reporter. Both, through research and interviews, present a series of highly factual reports to the public. The main difference is that the former writes about the present while the latter records the past.
Founded in 2008, the association aims at enhancing the local cultural profile of Macau. The group achieved publicity with its initiative (in cooperation with the association for local restaurants and bakery employees) when it established a “brothel museum” (although they prefer to call it “Qinglou Fang”). Lei confessed to The Times that the English translation was not an appropriate name, as the multi-layered significance of the word “Qinglou” would be dented by the word “brothel.”

Macau Daily Times – How did the partnership with the association for local restaurants and bakery workers form?
Laura Lei – Even though we haven’t cooperated with each other before, they know we have experience, as we conducted guided tours on that topic before and therefore know some of its historical background. The idea came right at the time when the Cultural Affairs Bureau was overseeing building renovations. They wished to revitalize the space. It’s how we were invited to engage in the project.

MDT – Will the revamp affect the original function of the building as a leisure and entertainment venue for the workers?
LL – We’d work together on the matter. They have another office at Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva. Revitalization doesn’t mean the original function of the building has to disappear. Therefore, we still have space there for their leisure and entertainment activities. Again, the complex will primarily have three functions. A café, or probably a teahouse, either one we haven’t settled on. What’s more is a creative and cultural store and the Qinglou Museum.

MDT – How do artists qualify to put their works on display or sale there?
LL – Anyone who is interested is welcome to join us. The cultural and creative industry is not only limited to handicraft items. We’ll also do exhibition and sales there. Specific details would be confirmed later. If the artists’ works match our theme or objective of showcasing local creations, then it will be fine. But we’d like to focus on printed items.

MDT – What are the association’s plans for this year?
LL – Our association will still continue to work on our own study of local oral history this year, which would take place in the summer vacation. Now it’s about data collection. There is actually an oral history research component on the local pawn industry, and one more about the anti-­Japanese war. Although Macau did not directly experience war, it’s important to raise the question of what happened here during the wartime. Besides, there’ll be an activity for open recruitment, which is a plan for training interviewers.

MDT – Could you tell us a little more about your Macau Story House?
LL – Macau Story House was a space dedicated to exhibitions and books about this city. All the books there are available for free. Some of the local artists’ handicrafts are also on display there. Last year, the house hosted a series of activities called “Street Food Vendors of Macau,” which was a product of oral history from the hawkers in the form of an exhibition. By promoting education in an accessible format, the history we received is not only for publication, but also [to] serve as educational materials.

MDT – How does the oral history project usually work?
LL – We’d first work out a theme, then mobilize helpers. After obtaining information through preparatory research, then we would pinpoint some targets, who might be seniors with plenty of knowledge. It’s kind of like journalist work – transcribe what someone says in verbatim. The interviewers would then write another script to be made public. Journalists record the present while we present the past.

MDT – How many members are there at the association currently?
LL – More people are joining our association. Currently there is a total of between 80 and 90 members. They have always participated in our oral history plans. From 2008 until now, we have constantly identified new members to be our interviewers every year. A majority of them are university students, who are always busy. The reason why those oral history projects take place in the summer is to accommodate to their schedules.

MDT – What are the major difficulties facing the association?
LL – I would say human resources. Most university students opt to work for other companies for better pay. Compared to other associations, our association has relatively few members, as only people truly interested in oral history would stay. Another issue is the soaring rent, which was our primary expenditure.

MDT – Are there any differences between your guided tour and those of others?
LL – We offer a guided tour service at the G32 open area in the São Lázaro. We have workers stationed there, different from those from the government. Our audience is probably the same. However, our information came from the old neighbors, who are still alive. Not only about the past, most of our presentation is about the local livelihood at present.  Staff reporter