Handkerchief artworks
My late grandmother, Lee Choy Kee, worked at the Polo Handkerchief Factory in Wellington. Once, our family had dozens of handkerchiefs made by her, but now there are very few. After their passing, I discovered immigration letters written to my grandfather, Dixon Yip, and father, Ng Sik Kwun, revealing family secrets and people I never knew existed. I selected several of those letters and hand-stitched the words onto my grandmother’s handkerchiefs. These pieces have since been displayed in public galleries in New Zealand.
12th July 1951 (2024), hand-embroidered immigration letter on my grandmother's handkerchief
Exhibition: displayed with Fortune at Wellington Museum, 30 November 2024 - 27 April, 2025.
Official immigration letter, hand-embroidered onto an original handkerchief made by my grandmother Yip Choy Kee at the Polo Handkerchief Factory, Wellington. The letter references my grandfather's (unsuccessful) attempt to bring the siblings of my grandmother and grandfather to New Zealand. It reads:
"Representations have been made to me by Mr. Dixon Yip, a Chinese, who conducts a laundry business at 53 Webb Street, Wellington.
Mr Dixon Yip asks that permission should be granted for this two brothers:
Mr. Yip Kim Ben – single, aged 23, of Canton
And Mr. Yip Tong Son – married, “ 24, “ “ to come to New Zealand.
He stated that his parents had owned an area of land in China, but this had been taken by the Communists.
They have not yet applied for permission to come to New Zealand.
Mr. Dixon Yip stated that he would guarantee his brothers work in his own business, and their accommodation in the 8-roomed house which he owns at 40 Abel Smith Street.
Mr Dixon Yip also asked whether permission could be granted for his wife’s sister, Lee Choy King, a widow with no children, aged 36 of Canton, to enter New Zealand. Her husband and her children died of famine during Japanese occupation. He also guaranteed employment and accommodation."
3 September 1962 (2024), hand-embroidered immigration letter on my grandmother's handkerchief
Exhibition: displayed with Fortune at Wellington Museum, 30 November 2024 - 27 April 2025.
Official immigration letter, hand-embroidered onto an original handkerchief made by my grandmother Yip Choy Kee at the Polo Handkerchief Factory, Wellington. The letter references my grandfather's (unsuccessful) attempt to bring his Hong Kong-based brother and family to New Zealand. It reads:
"3 September 1962
Dear Mr. Yip,
As mentioned in his letter of 17 August, XXX XXXXX XXXXXXXX has asked me to reply to your request that your brother, Yip Kim Bing, with his wife and six children be permitted to come to New Zealand from Hong Kong.
You are probably aware that an application from this family could not be approved under existing policy and that I would be making an exception to policy did I approve. Before I could do so, therefore, I must be satisfied that I would be justified in making the exception.
I have studied the information you have supplied and find much in it which evokes my sympathy. I am mindful, however, of the many similar requests I have received of equal or greater merit in which I have not found it possible to give my approval.
As approval in this case would be inconsistent with my decisions in the many other cases, I’m sorry to inform you that I am not prepared to make the exception.
Yours sincerely,"
2 September, 1953, (2024), hand-embroidered immigration letter on my grandmother's handkerchief
Exhibition: Material Matters, The Suter Te Aratoi Te Whakatū, 14 December2024 - 2 March 2025
Official immigration letter, hand-embroidered onto an original handkerchief made by my grandmother Yip Choy Kee at the Polo Handkerchief Factory, Wellington. The letter references my bachelor father's (unsuccessful) attempt to leave New Zealand to ask a girl he studied with in Hong Kong to marry him. If he had, he would never have met and married my mother two years later .