Artist Statement

 

Hong Kong’s nighttime blanketed by the city’s sea of neon lights holds an eerie resemblance to a tragic yet dazzling nightscape. However, when viewed from close-up, it is not as beautiful as it seems. The key element that defines this nightscape is the contrast between the external and the internal. One example is the cluster of skyscraper buildings flooding the streets of Hong Kong, which hides old microscopic apartments, and is surrounded by narrow sidewalks and roads.

This painting showcases my first impressions of Hong Kong, including the neon lights I saw every day. I still remembered my first day in the city, as the scene I witnessed had left me with an unsettling feeling. When compared to Korea, buildings here were very close to one another and interior space was extremely limited. If curtains weren’t close, anyone could see into the neighboring house. Although Korea has apartments similar to Hong Kong, the amount of available space is at least three times bigger. Another iconic scene is the variety of neon light signs across the city, which plays a big role in shaping Hong Kong as the city that never sleeps. Be as it may, many residents do suffer from increasing light pollution.

After having lived in Hong Kong for over five years, its key elements have finally tired me out.

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