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Freshly graduated from London’s Royal College of Art, painter Mimi Leung is currently transiting through Tuen Mun en route to a wild adventure in the Australian desert. She talks to Emily Liu Yi about her struggles and dreams.
 

Why do you have your studio at home?
I just never thought about renting a studio in Hong Kong, and in London the prices are so high. Also I am leaving in August, so everything is temporary. I have a boyfriend in Australia; he's a musician and has an amazing job at a radio station in the desert, working with aboriginal communities. It sounds quite fun so I might go and hang out in the desert.

Are those your parents walking outside?
Yes, they are quite nice and funny. But I seldom ask for their comments on my work. I don’t really expect them to understand it.

Why are your works so colourful?
It's very hard to not be inspired by colours. I enjoy walking around old little stationery shops, checking out all the weird-coloured paints.

The press release for your current exhibition says you’re inspired by vomit, disease and mutation. How so?
The action of throwing up is quite intense; it’s a direct dialogue between the mind and body, the physical and metaphysical. I threw up out of the front window of a car once. I tried to hold it back but it all came flying out eventually, we were going about 80mph. It was funny.

I see this struggle for control over your body as the struggle between the individual and society. Throwing up is like the last, basic act of rebellion and disgust that an individual can show for their social surroundings. I suppose I noticed this tension more in Hong Kong... Every time I go to Central and pick up a newspaper or magazine they are all telling you to earn more money or buy designer clothes and hangout with cool people. It is really different from the way people hang out in London, and I guess I am still trying to adjust to it all.

How did you come to work for Vice Magazine in the UK?
Last summer, when I graduated, my friend asked if I had any short animations I'd like to submit to [hipster bible] Vice and I just happened to have a super short one (sequenced still images with music), so I submitted, and then, yeah. I haven’t worked on many issues. I was happy to be invited by the magazine, and the guys are really nice.

We’ve noticed fliers you’ve designed for the Underground indie shows; it’s rare to see visual artists collaborating with musicians in this town.
Really? I‘ve been involved with musicians since I was in London. We were a community of artists, designers, musicians and multi-media artists showing [our work] and having fun. My friends and I took turns doing posters for gigs, I also played guitar in gigs myself. It’s really hard to find this in Hong Kong. When I met a friend from Underground, I thought it would be nice to do some drawings for them. Maybe when I go to Australia I will pick up music again. Musicians are more fun to hang out with than artists.

The Hope and Struggle: Paintings and Drawings Exhibition by Mimi Leung is showing until Sat 26 at Culture Club Gallery, 15 Elgin St, Central, 2127 7936; www.cultureclub.com.hk, www.mimileung.co.uk.