Hong Kong Students Prize 2019

“This piece was created to raise the question of whether using elements of another’s culture is considered ‘appropriation’ or can be justified as ‘appreciation’. The controversy surrounding the use of a culture as a mere accessory is becoming increasingly prevalent amongst our society, as
influential celebrities continue to explore new and exotic looks in performances. ‘Boxer braids’ are just one example of this, as seen in my piece. Some argue they wear these braids for their aesthetic value and see nothing wrong with simply appreciating an aesthetic. Others suggest that even calling them
‘Boxer Braids,’ as if they are a new trend that they’ve come up with, is outrageous. Of course, these are both reasonable justifications. I intend to create
a number of pieces that depict both sides of this dispute, however this piece particularly opts to ask the reader; does taking a practice out of its cultural
context reduce the identity of the individuals who are part of this culture? Hence the name Boxed out, intended to be a play on words combining the term box braids with the idea of being excluded from one’s own culture. A much looser painting style to how I typically work, however by creating a contrast
between the detailed braids and the ‘consumed’ face, I hope to achieve my desired effect.”

“This digital work, drawn in Adobe Photoshop, is representative of the feelings of ambiguity and uncertainty that I feel towards my ‘failed dream’ of becoming an astronaut: A dream that currently seems unapproachable and far away, coated with a tinge of danger. The use of perspective and the figure’s hands reaching out encompass the displacement between reality and the desired persona, focusing on the gap between the two. Drawing inspiration from Kiera Boyle’s underdog collection and the animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse poster, this piece is influenced through colour and composition.”

“A piece about sheltering ourselves and breaking free from our comfort zones.”

“This is a drawing representing the connections and memories I shared with the ocean, and how it shaped me into the person I am today.”

“This work explores the different surfaces of the city of Hong Kong and pays tribute to the old and emerging architectural features of the structures in Hong Kong.”

“I was painting alone in the living room and sighing because I had been criticized by relatives and schoolmates for choosing art as my subject and career. My father came up to me and said: “I will support you no matter what you choose”. This warmed my heart; I have used soft brushstrokes to reflect this feeling. In Hong Kong, there are many parents who compel their children to study the subjects and apply for jobs they don’t like. However, I am so thankful to have such good parents who support me no matter what, so that I can fight for my art dream and let it ABLAZE.”

“This is a self-portrait, that seeks to communicate the strength of the human spirit, using the concept of the Japanese art form Kintsugi as it’s underpinning. Kintsugi is the art of making things more beautiful after they have been broken, by repairing it with gold.”

“The piece was inspired by an overpass near my school. One day I was extremely upset and walked past this overpass, I thought “I can share the loneliness of a homeless man.” Therefore, I drew this magical moment.”

“As you can see the shadow of the mountain is in parallel with the man. It’s like we’re somehow not connected yet we are connected with each other.”

“In today’s society, the disparity between the rich and the poor is an indisputable fact. Unfortunately, empathy between people is also very weak.”

“It’s nearly 8pm, and the girl is walking into a dead alley with only her school bag and nothing else. Does she know the danger of being alone? Does she have a place in her mind that she is going to? Or is she aimlessly exploring the city with an adventurous soul?”

“In my painting, I am especially interested in the mix and match of elements. In this piece it is a mixture of Western Mathematics and Chinese Shan Shui aesthetic. The mountains can be be seen as a graph curve, using both elements that are out of my comfort zone.”

“Still Life Motion: City is an experiment of movements of light and colours in a stopped moment. The photograph was taken in Stockholm, Sweden, in the summer of 2018. It captured a scene of a construction site. The work is made of a high vibrancy of colour and a high contrast of brightness in order to emphasize the motions within the image.”

“What is successful life? No matter how old you are or where you come from, we all share a desire to be successful. People always strive for their own
visions and goals. “Satisfied with what one has” is always the best attitude to bring happiness to our life. Even a girl from the Third World has her own dream and I believe that learning to stay happy and positive is a key to succeed in life. In my artwork, I depict the four important life events of this girl to tell her own story. Growth of flowers symbolizes the different life stages, indicating rise and fall, leading people to scan the work in a spiral path. This narrative work with delicate and fine brushwork illustrates that a SUCCESSFUL life can be ordinary. It can be choosing the job you like, forming your own family, raising your offspring and approaching death with dignity.”

“This is a collection of tea leaves from my home that are arranged according to their shapes and sizes. Their dry and wet states are depicted in the left and right. Their neat arrangement gives a feeling of structural order that creates a peaceful atmosphere throughout the piece.”

“This portrait is talking about the current school system, which is spoon feeding education. Students only absorb knowledge the teacher asks them to learn, there is no chance for asking or develop their own ideas. And I want to show others this problem.”

“Hong Kong is a place with rapid urban development, people are used to walk quickly and work silently. Yet, in my eyes, Hong Kong is still unchanged beauty.”

“This painting shows the relationship between water and ink on the material. The idea and concept is about the macroscopic view of nature. It is less a Chinese painting than a personal statement of art.”

“This work is inspired by the natural and body. We are born with nature and rooted in nature, as one. The soil, the blood, the rain is in one with me. You Are The Flower I Am The Rain.”