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Worrying about HK
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).
Weekend Art Retreat
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?
Back From Vacation
Got home late last night (~11pm) from a 10-day vacation in Singapore with my family…
It was my first time in SG, I was particularly taken away by its greenery everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. They truly live up to their “City in the Garden” reputation!
It was a much needed vacation to rest my body and soul from a seemingly never ending worrisome situation between the Hongkongers and the Government and its police force. I was sleeping very well for the first few nights despite sharing a hotel room with my dad who snores loudly. But since the horrifying violence broke out in Yuen Long late Sunday night, I resorted back to being a night owl and spent long late night hours catching up and sieving the news from an overwhelming sea of unverified news. My mood and sleep quality declined since then even though I had my own hotel room with a huge clean bed and a breathtaking view of the S’pore city.
Nonetheless, while having the opportunity to stay behind for 3 more days by myself, I did manage to use my daytime hours wisely to explore many museums and exhibitions throughout the city, my decision to stay disconnected while away from the hotel certainly helped. One particular satisfying exhibition was that of a Singaporean watercolor painter Lim Cheng Hoe. The artworks as well as the diaries he left behind was a testimony of how much he loved art, even though he was only able to enjoy it as a hobby on top of his full-time clerical job.
Seeing the LIM CHENG HOE: PAINTING SINGAPORE Exhibition certainly made me want to spend more time exploring art and writing up my journal, and it shall start with this entry post!
June 16th Protest
We’ve made history!! Following a one million people protest a week before, Hongkongers reunited for another peaceful protest, this time wearing black and with even more ppl! With a nearly 2-million-ppl strong peaceful protest, Hongkongers broke all records regarding protest locally (and perhaps also globally)!! Gotta be proud to be a part of this historic event.
But will our stubborn and arrogant Gov. hear their ppl this time around? So far, none of the rally’s petitions were answered.
As much as I’m proud of Hongkongers, there was a somewhat worrying scene I witnessed during the rally. At one point when we passed some parked police vehicles, many of the protesters swore and even intimidated the police officers to open fire. The police looked annoyed and angry but yet kept silent the whole time. This was in stark contrast to the week before when police and protesters were still very polite and friendly with each other. Looks like the incident at the Gov. headquarters on my bday had torn apart the relationship of Hong Kong Police Force and the ppl they serve.
Dear HK Gov., can you hear 2 million of your ppl’s unequivocal petitions? Only you can help heal the wounds that have been torn apart now.
Need to keep praying for our city… ??
