It has already been a month since I returned from my HK trip, time really flies.

I had kept myself busy this past week with a mix of events, friends meetups, and studio work. On Thursday May 35th, besides meeting up a couple of good old UW classmates for lunch, I kept myself informed with livestream and news videos of what was happening at Victoria Park in HK where the annual candlelight vigil had been banned in the past few years. Nowadays, even the slightest gesture of signaling 6 and 4 with your hands was taboo and cause you to be escorted to a Police station. I admire the activists in HK who still persist the annual commemoration in their own creative ways despite the oppression. It may be just coincidence that my newly leased studio is at the intersection of Victoria Park (Road), but I felt an extra sense of responsibility in commemorating the massacre that happened 37 years ago when I was given the freedom to do so in this country that I now call home (maybe second home away from Home Kong to be exact?).

Met up with some friends on Friday night for wings and beer while watching Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Had a slight hangover the next morning and was late for an Editorial Cartoons Forum I signed up for. The sharing by 尊子 and 黃照達 of their long experience with editorial cartoons in HK was very interesting and precious at this day and age. I really miss seeing 尊子’s witty satirical cartoons that can often bring Hongkongers a little bit of stress relief by slapping those in power publicly in the form of a small single panel cartoon. Sad that any form of such representation is forbidden and can easily land you in jail in HK now.

Went back to my studio after the forum to join the opening reception of a sculpture and an exhibition. This was the first time I got to see the art sculpture and exhibitions at the growing Industrial Arts community since I started leasing the studio space there in May. Felt great to be immersed in art and being in an industrial setting where I’m not afraid to experiment and make a big mess. After nearly a month, I am now more or less finished in setting up the studio, will give myself another week to display some of my ongoing projects and design some business cards before opening the studio to friends and potential clients (upon appointment). I feel grateful and pray whenever I look back at the wonderful studio space I was entrusted with. May God bless this space and help me in doing good works serving others and the community sustainably. 🙏🏻