On the verge of getting a world-class visual arts museum and famed for being an art auction powerhouse, Hong Kong should better recognise – finally – the amazing talent already in its midst. Edmund Lee gives a shout-out to 22 of our city’s best artists. Photography by Calvin Sit.

What are the most recognisable traits of your work?
Usually, people remember me for my floral patterns composed with words. I’ve been doing that for eight or nine years now.

How did this begin?
I’ve always been working with words. When I was studying in the UK in 2002, I just suddenly had this idea of creating something that looks like graphic from afar but is actually text if you look closer. I wanted to fill up the entire space with it.

Name the media that you work in.
Often I paint, do silkscreen and create video works.

How do you find your inspirations?
I used to focus more on the social aspects but in recent years, it’s more about my own thoughts on religion and humanity.

Are you working on any new pieces?
I’m creating some video works for a July show [at Pearl Lam]. They are based on YouTube video footages of political figures facing trials or being executed.

What’s the best way for collectors find your work?
I used to be represented by a Beijing gallery but not any more. I don’t really have a proper collaboration with any gallery, so usually, when people are looking for my work, they just approach me through my email.

What’s been the most memorable incident in your career as an artist?
There was a see lai coming to see my Shanghai exhibition back in 2004. After seeing the show, she just contemptuously remarked in front of me: “So this is the artist.” Then she left.

Tell us about your upcoming exhibitions.
In May, I’ll be showing at Mobile M+: Yau Ma Tei (May 15-Jun 10), as well as the Shenzhen Sculpture Biennale (May 12-Aug 31).

What are you taking to these shows?
The M+ work isn’t a new one: it’s a video work involving text and the Bible, and it’s been exhibited in Japan before. The Shenzhen one is a new video work that also employs text, but is of a different type to the M+ work.

www.tsangkinwah.com

Images:
1&2) Tsang Kin-wah and his work, The Fifth Seal - HE Shall Deliver You Up To Be Afflicted And Killed As HE Was (digital video projection with sound, 2011, at Tokyo’s Mori Art Museum). Photo credit: Kenji Morita.
3&4) Let Us Build And Launch A Blue Rocket To His Heaven (Screen on lino paper and vinyl, 2009, at Biennale de Lyon)

| Wilson Shieh | Leung Chi-wo | Ho Sin-tung | Wong Wai-yin | Kwan Sheung-chi | Adrian Wong | Magdalen Wong | Kacey Wong | Chow Chun-fai | Joey Leung Ka-yin | Nadim Abbas | Lee Kit | Stephanie Sin | Stanley Wong aka anothermountainman | Simon Birch | Lam Tung-pang | Ivy Ma | Samson Young | Au Hoi-lam | Pak Sheung-chuen | Tang Kwok-hin | Tsang Kin-wah |