Weekend Art Retreat

Sep 2, 2019

Had the privilege to spend another wonderful weekend at the beautiful WWF Island House making art and meeting new and old friends. It was a super quiet weekend with very little visitors, likely due to our city’s ongoing protests and bad weather. It was somewhat expected and I wasn’t disappointed whatsoever. Every time I walked into the secluded Island House, it felt like re-experiencing my Hawaiian vacation back in 2013 when I attended my friend’s wedding on the Big Island. For me, making art and sharing occasional friendly conversations with visitors at the Island House was more of a vacation than work.

Slightly disappointed was that the girl-I-like couldn’t make it to the Event last minute. I was so hoping to show her around the beautiful environment and experience a little bit of Hawaii together in HK.

Our city experienced another weekend of violent clashes between protesters and police. Fires were started, blue solutions were sprayed, and real guns were shot. Almost the entire subway line was stopped at one point. It was a dramatic contrast to my quiet weekend art retreat.

Weekend Events

Aug 25, 2019

Met up with the girl-I-like yesterday after our dinner a couple of weeks ago. Originally planned to see an exhibition together at the Expo near the airport, but changed plans last minute after hearing about possible protests in that area. We went to visit The Mills in Tsuen Wan instead, first time there for the both of us. I think both she and I find the stuff there pretty interesting, and there was some added nostalgic value for me because my parents used to work in that neighborhood and I would sometimes tag along to their factories when I was a kid.

After visiting The Mills, she wanted to visit a craft market in Central and I overheard her on the phone about meeting a friend there. I thought she would just dish me and go meet up with her friend. But I asked rather shyly if I could join them because the MTR station to my studio was closed due to protest and I was actually a bit interested in visiting the craft market too. Turns out she was actually meeting a common friend and her husband. Could I consider this a double date? A breakthrough in our relationship? Anyway, I enjoyed and cherished every minute that evening amidst the violent clashes happening near my studio in Kowloon Bay.

Went to see the exhibition alone at the Airport Expo today because it was the last day. I was hoping to get some inspiration from the exhibition to start an art project relating the lingering protests in our city, but the exhibition was a little disappointing. In retrospect, it was a good idea that we switched plans yesterday.

Violent clashes broke out again today, this time in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Fong. I was thinking we may see less of that after last week’s 1.7-million strong peaceful protest, and after a relatively peaceful protest in Yuen Long on Wed., and after an uplifting Hong Kong Way campaign on Fri. evening. I couldn’t be more wrong.

Our city’s Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, released a public note yesterday urging Hongkongers to rest and initiate dialogues in search of common grounds. I honestly would love to rest too, but a dialogue requires communication in both ways. The protesters have unequivocally voiced out their 5 petitions since June, where’s your response Carrie Lam? Do you hear the people sing?

Sketch… (early) Sunday Service

Aug 25, 2019

Heung Gong Yan… Ga Yau!!

Aug 18, 2019

Joined the city’s protest for the fourth time this summer. It was a rainy day, but it didn’t stop 1.7 million Hongkongers from coming out to voice out their disapproval of our government and its police force.

On top of the 5 somewhat consistent petitions, the main theme for today’s rally was against police brutality. Since the city’s protests started in early June, we had witnessed too many unjustified violence excercised by HK Police Force (e.g. colluding with triads, deploying thousands of tear gas canisters, firing pepper guns at close range, pushing protesters down escalators…). The HKPF’s brutality was often followed by stupid explanations and was highly praised by the government.

I believe there’s just too much injustice being built up in our city. Today I was determined more than before to join the millions of Hongkongers to rally against Injustice and in support of Freedom. Carrie Lam, do you hear the people sing?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Sketch… Sunday Service

Aug 18, 2019

Week of Meetups

Aug 11, 2019

In midst of the lingering and worrisome protests that are happening everywhere in our city on a nearly daily basis, I managed to keep my social life intact and engaged in many rare and satisfying meetups this week…

It started off with a buffet lunch to celebrate my calligraphy classmate’s 91st bday on Tuesday! I drew him an ink portrait and had everyone signed during class. He was really happy that day, ate a lot of food, and even tricked us by paying the entire bill himself while getting a cup of coffee!

Then came the long awaited date with the girl-I-like on Thur. evening. She dressed up beautifully and had makeup on. I, on the other hand, did put on my jeans and shoes, an improvement already from my usual attire of shorts and flip flops. It’s been months (or even a year?) since I last met up with her, but it didn’t take too long for us to catch up and start engaging in more genuine conversations. I’m not much of a foodie, but I really enjoy sharing a meal with her and seeing her satisfying smile. Asked her out to see an exhibition together later this month. May God continue to bless this relationship.

The week ended with 2 more separate mini reunions, one with my primary school classmates and the other with my university fellowship, and both meetups happened because of friends visiting from US. The fellowship friend said he hasn’t been back to HK for 11 years and was transiting here only briefly for a day from a business trip. Glad we made it to meet up with him late last night in TST in midst of chaotic protests in the district.

As the protests in our city becomes ever more chaotic, I seem to yearn for closer relationships and cherish the time more when I’m with family and friends. At the same time, I also seem to be more easily irritated by loud noises and bickering. Honestly, I’m getting more and more tired of following the protest news and trying to sieve rights from wrongs. Can we take a break and get a little breather?

Sketch… Sunday Service

Aug 11, 2019

Worrying about HK

Aug 7, 2019

On Monday Aug. 5th, I went back to the studio super early to avoid an expected traffic chaos due to a citywide strike. I personally supported the strike and only went back to the studio to work on some personal projects. Was feeling hopeful knowing our city’s CE finally decided to hold a press conference after hiding from the public for 2 weeks. My hope turned into worries afterwards as it looks like our government planned to continuously suppress the protesters by force (HK Police Force) rather than resolving the issues politically by addressing the 5 petitions. The HKPC deployed over 800 tear gas canisters at different corners of the city later on that day!

I’m even more worried now after listening to different political opinions and thinking over the current situation independently in the last couple of days. Without the Government and HKPC softening their tactics, the violence between protesters and HKPC will only escalate in a vicious cycle.

There’s really nothing I can help with the current worrying political situation other than offering my daily prayers. In this highly tensed political environment, I find myself withdrawing more to quiet solitudes, engaging in art and creative endeavors as a form of emotional outlet. One personal creative project is the launching of a website to collect 1000 unique Chinese characters for our city’s CE, Carrie Lam – www.1000letters2carrielam.com . Honestly, I don’t know what to make of the project, but I believe creativity has a role to play in this lingering protest, just not too sure how (yet).

Sketch… Sunday Service

Aug 4, 2019

Weekend Art Retreat

Jul 29, 2019

Over the weekend, I was fortunate enough to be invited back to WWF’s Island House to do some art. The location is truly a paradise that’s isolated from our ever more chaotic city. The staffs and volunteers there were also very friendly and accommodating, quite a stark contrast from the hostile faces that’s becoming common on our local news. I was telling the manager who invited me for the event that the environment there felt like Hawaii, and I sincerely meant it!

Inside the mostly quiet and sweet-smelling (my neighbor lady was selling incense oil) heritage building, I was able to concentrate and make a satisfying brush-and-ink drawing of the historic house. Once in a while, a staff would bring a group of guests to tour our room. Some guests would occasionally come over and watch me draw and I would invite them to help themselves with the critically endangered animals stickers and mini cards that were left over from my previous exhibition. I especially like seeing kids and would sometimes ask and write out their names in Chinese calligraphy, most of the kids and their parents really liked that despite my rusty skill.

Besides interacting with the occasional guests, I also befriended a few of the staffs at the Island House. A couple of them told me, out of the blue, that they loved to draw when they were young, but never pursued an artistic career. That surprised me somewhat. Maybe seeing me draw actually kindled their love of art? One’s love of art can actually bring out the artists in people, just like how I wanted to become an artist after seeing Lim Cheng Hoe and Wu Guanzhong’s exhibitions in SG? I sure hope they would continue to draw and make art on their own.

I really love doing art and would do it full-time if I can afford so. Would you want me to become a full-time artist, my Father in Heaven?

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