This painting series started from being inspired by cafes. Cafes in Hong Kong have grown all over the place. The creative ways cafes uitilise small spaces to create an inviting environment for people to get their coffee fix intrigued me everytime I walked passed a new coffee shop. I wanted to illustrate these spaces. I made a few sketches of these spaces, then I thought of all these intimate spaces people spent their time in to feel relaxed: their own bedrooms, kitchens, restaurants, all these places that people felt a sense of tranquility.

The coronavirus pandemic was a time when everyone had to be isolated. The feeling of going out to take a breath of fresh air, enjoy the outdoors became a rare luxury. This was the start of my painting series, “Safe Spaces,” created to explore the intimate spaces that allowed people to feel comfortable being themselves.

The first of the series is “Safe Space: Plants Shop”. I used gouache paint to illustrate an imaginary plants shop that also doubled as a cafe. I love this plant/cafe shop concept because it embodies the essence of the human’s need for leisure. One can feel the relaxing atmosphere of the plants around them while enjoying a cup of coffee. Building these environments in my imagination allows me to express emotions that we are always looking for in a time of chaos and uncertainty.

The second painting is “Safe Space: Kitchen”. This painting was inspired by my friend’s kitchen. The pandemic led to many people trying on different hobbies during the free time they acquired from having to self-isolate. Baking was one of the fun things I thought of during this time, and in the comfort of your own home, you are able to find solace in trying something new. New skills and hobbies make us feel a sense of purpose, especially during a time where our lives are at an indefinite pause.

The third one is “Safe space: a bird’s cage”. The home can be both a cage, and a playground depending on your perspective. I painted an old partner’s brother playing with their pet’s bird. In this scene, they are full of energy, innocence and joy in their own home, free from worries of the outside. There is so much beauty that can be captured when you are allowing yourself to be fully immersed in play.

This painting series is the first ever that I have done, and the beginning of this artistic exploration on urban spaces that bring about the beauty of our everyday lives.