Being an artist who just graduated from university in 2023, I felt this newfound freedom to create. I had made several paintings up to this point, but I had ideas to exhibit my work and showcase my artistic journey in a profound way. Every artist has a muse, and for me, my muse has always been urban cities and spaces. I wanted so badly to have the chance to show my art at a space that I also made people feel at ease.
I always was fascinated by cafes and the ambience they gave. I always wanted to have my art exhibited at a cafe, allowing people to appreciate my art while enjoying a cup of coffee. This to me was a dream.
So sometime during a hot April 2024, I went to visit Colour Brown Cafe, and made a small painting of the space while trying their coffee. Even then I could see it: My paintings are being displayed at their space. The spiral staircase, the rustic and retro design of the chairs and tables, and the warm feeling of the people enjoying themselves at this cozy space. I had such a strong desire to create, and this was my motivation to pursue my dream. I pitched my idea to the coffee shop managers and curators. After discussion, we decided to move forward with our idea to create a set of paintings showcasing the beauty of Shamshuipo.
This came the beginning of a long artistic journey of creating the world of Shamshuipo through Hippiefart’s eyes.
I painted every day since then; each process of the art-making allowed me to develop a strong connection to Shamshuipo. Exploring the area and everything that intrigued me about it inspired me to develop my art style. At this point my art style was limited to a specific colour scheme (pastel tones of purple, blue, pink and yellow) and using gouache paint on paper. Occasionally I would use acrylic or oil paint. For this project I had to go big and bold. I had to use larger canvases, experiment with different mediums and craft a more dynamic style of illustration. After all the research and trial and error, I built a more multifaceted style of painting. I experimented with different visual perspectives, colour schemes, and decided to use acrylic paint, with an added layer of oil pastel to add another layer of texture and a brighter colour intensity. To protect the oil pastel, I added another layer of acrylic medium, then finished it off with a varnish.
Every day after work I went to the studio to work on my paintings. Long nights and days of sketching drafts, filming my process, and doing this routine all over again the next week were not easy. But all the effort paid off.
Because a year later, I’d have made all 14 paintings, exhibited them at the cafe, and finally have my visions come to fruition.
We always see the artists’ work but never how hard it took for them to have it realized.
It all came from my passion for creating a world of Hong Kong through my own lens and my love for the culture that I now have made a small contribution to. Sharing it with the community is the best thing that can come out of art. What allows me to stay passionate is the relationships built through art that develops a sense of identity for Hong Kong people.
My exhibition at Colour Brown Cafe is up from 30th May-8th June. I hope to see you there <3
Get your ticket to the exhibition: https://www.popticket.hk/en/event/additional-art-exhibition-hippiefart?preview=kbQurc
Get a personalised postcard painting: https://www.popticket.hk/event/story-art-postcard-hippiefart
Shamshuipo Series Complete Set of Paintings: https://shop.colourbrown.com/collections/hippiefart