Hong Kong performers revive magical past

Former golden age

Ernest Pui Chun-hin is the founder of the Hong Kong Schools Magic Association, a local nonprofit organization that has dedicated more than a decade to the study of magic.

The niche art form once experienced a golden era in the city, Pui said. Hong Kong's association with magic performances goes back more than 70 years, with its origins credited to Chu Wang-yu, the city's first magician.

Chu came from the Chinese mainland and relocated to Hong Kong. He became proficient in English, and read foreign magazines where he came across articles on magic that ignited his interest in the art of illusion. Subsequently, he immersed himself in books to master the craft.

In 1939, Chu established WY Chu Magic Studio, the first magic emporium in Hong Kong, specializing in magicians' apparatus.

Chu's props stood out for their ingenious mechanisms. Stylistically, he blended Eastern and Western aesthetics and embellished large props with intricate Eastern motifs such as dragons and phoenixes. His creations swiftly captivated magic lovers around the world.

"That marked the onset of a golden period," Pui said.

"Many magic enthusiasts from Australia, Britain, the United States, India, and beyond, flocked to Hong Kong to buy Chu's props. As Chu sold props exclusively to his students, he converted many customers into his students."

Due to Chu's influence, Hong Kong fostered a community of magic enthusiasts. By 1956, these aficionados organized the city's first industry association, the Guild of Oriental Magicians, with Chu as president.

Many renowned lawyers, high-ranking officials, and businessmen were guild members. Alexander Grantham, the then-governor of Hong Kong, was the guild's honorary adviser.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Hong Kong witnessed a period of economic prosperity and cultural advancement, and the art of magic also gained in popularity.

A wave of local magicians emerged, and many overseas artists came to the city to perform.

In 1989, a cohort of magicians established the Magicians' Association of Hong Kong, the city's first such organization to receive international recognition.

Television also helped popularize magic shows in the city.

In 2011, Television Broadcasts Limited launched the city's first magic-themed reality show, The Magic Ring, and two years later, the broadcaster aired another magic show, Street Sorcerers. These programs uncovered many talented local magicians, and helped generate greater interest in the art form.