You are a very gifted painter and your ability to capture the realism of a scene is amazing . How did you become an artist and what is your artistic background ?
I worked with acrylic painting when I was in Hong kong Polytechnic . After graduation from my Design & Illustration course in 1984 , I went into the advertising field and didn ’ t pick up a paint brush for over 30 years ! With my wife ’ s encouragement in 2014 , I had painted a series called “ Hong Kong in a Better Light ” within 18 months and lounged my roving exhibition during 2015- 2017 . Frankly speaking , I am not yet a professional artist , but I would continue to paint another series in order to extend the theme of “ Hong Kong in a Fresh Light .” My hope is that people can see the positive reflection of Hong Kong through my productions . such as singing , juggling , fortune-telling , local food stalls and flea markets . It was also known as the “ poor man ’ s nightclub ” and a famous tourist attraction between the 1970s and 1980s . The Night Bazaar is a valuable and collective memory for all of us . I believe that the society needs continuity and connection with the past to preserve solidarity and cultural identity .
What inspired you to turn your creative outlet into your personal style and do you have a preferred style of painting ?
My preferred style of painting is realism and I was inspired by 2 artists : Hajime Sorayama , a famous Japanese illustrator who painted the hyper-realistic and provocative “ Robot Girl ” series , and Ken Danby the Canadian painter who portrayed everyday life in a realistic manner .
Your deep rooted passion for creating your art stems from your love of Hong Kong and its history . Why is preserving the legacy of Hong Kong so important to you ?
I was born in and grew up in Hong Kong . This is my home with all my family , friends and memories which are deeply relevant and integral to my identity . To reciprocate the love , care and support that this community has provided for me , I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings , e . g . “ Mutual Help ”, “ Forever Guardian ”, “ Striving for excellence ”, etc .
If you had the power to stop the demolition of a particular building or area in Hong Kong . Where or what would it be ?
If I had the power , I would stop the demolition of Sheung Wan Night Bazaar which was redeveloped into a commercial building , Shun Tak Centre in 1984 . The Night Bazaar was the most popular vast public space for people gathering after work since 1840s . There were many different cultural , recreational activities and features ,
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Inspiration can be found in people from all walks of life , past or present . If you could pay homage to a woman in history or within your personal life , who would it be and why ?
I would like to pay homage to my wife , Jackie who motivated me to paint again and always supports me in whatever circumstances . Though having no formal training in art , Jackie has an innate aesthetic eye and sense . With her artistic vision and impeccable attention to detail , she has become my adviser and consultant for my work .
Is there anything else that you ’ d like to share with our audience ?
I began to focus on my artistic career and started oil painting last year . In moving forward , I would like to continue producing and exhibiting works that shed light on the vital spirit of Hong Kong . I am going to participate in various activities :
� Singapore Art Show ( with 21 countries ’ artists ) in November 2017 ; � Bless Asia Art Show in December 2017 ; � Top 10 Oil Painter Art Show in January ,
2018 � My second round of solo exhibition with another new series in late 2018 .
On the other hand , I would donate prints of my works for fund raising purposes to support philanthropy as I have done for Morning Sunshine Cancer Charitable Fund Association previously