Sovereign Asian Art Prize Unveils Exhibition: 20 Years of Contemporary Art

In a first-ever speakeasy concept, artist Jonathan Jay Lee and Kiyoshi Hoshimi-Caines, former Head Sommelier and Beverage Director of Yardbird and RONIN, teamed up at the Affordable Art Fair (AAF)’s 2024 edition to bring Sham Shui Po to the HKCEC. We caught up with the pair on the “Neon” project, which was also co-presented by The Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Completely transforming the well-lit artworks right outside of its hidden entrance, the “Neon” speakeasy’s cool ambiance and nostalgic interior are reminiscent of old Hong Kong. With its walls decorated with antique accents and original artworks by Jonathan, an AAF veteran, “Neon” is an essential add-on for visitors to be immersed in a uniquely Hong Kong experience. Sip on Kiyoshi’s curated cocktail menu, each drink inspired by quintessential childhood classics, while enjoying a cool respite from the busy fair.

Fronted by a Too Far East Barber & Co. pop-up led by Co-founder Kelvin Yu ornamented with traditional signage and a classic green mailbox, the entire concept exudes the passion each of the “Neon” speakeasy’s creators have for not only their craft, but for the city they call home.

Childhood Friends to Art Fair Headliners

Incidentally, the trio are childhood friends, Jonathan recalls while displaying a photo from 1997.

“We were day one friends since we were 12 years old, and we grew up together. I've been in the industry for 20 years, and the project felt like it was kind of made for us,” Kiyoshi shared, “[Jonathan] is not only the most amazing artist that I know but also my dearest friend and we've always wanted a reason to work together.”

Jonathan added: “When this whole thing came about, it doesn't make any sense, if you think about it. But those are the best kinds of projects. The ones that excite me the most are the ones that you have no certainty of what it's going to be.”

A Taste of Hong Kong

The speakeasy was a resounding success, piquing interest as soon as the Fair opened its doors. Unfortunately, the concept bar will remain open for four nights only as the fair ends on the 19th.

Visitors are drawn immediately to Too Far East’s barber shop, with a “back door” mimicking Hong Kong’s classic metal gates illustrated with Jonathan’s unique style. As soon as you enter, the dim atmosphere plus a collage of illustrations aged like a Sham Shui Po spot wallpaper draw you into the hidden bar.

Kiyoshi’s cocktail menu, created for “Neon,” is inspired by classic Hong Kong flavors – Chrysanthemum Tea, Milk Tea, and Egg Tarts.

“John's art has been synonymous with Hong Kong, and that's been his inspiration. And growing up together in Hong Kong, [we've been] taking [inspiration] from everything that we've always seen. For example, the barber out front [then] Kelvin always used to drink 菊花茶 [chrysanthemum tea] so he’s mainly the inspiration for the Gok Fa Spritz,” Kiyoshi explained.

“Milk tea at one point, I really loved, so it was also an easy one to bring about. And then 蛋撻 [egg tart], I thought was going to be really fun to incorporate a dessert and a cocktail but to do so in a fresh way, and do such a Hong Kong staple and classic.”

Capturing a Moment in Time

Jonathan’s art transports you to vivid scenes of everyday life in the city, naturally drawing from his own experiences.

He elaborated: “A lot of embracing imperfection in yourself, I realized it with Hong Kong. There's a truth in that, you love someone for their imperfections. By realizing and seeing [the city] from that perspective, I started appreciating everything about it.”

“It was such a strange thing because it wasn't an intention like I'm trying to do this, it really was just I want to portray it the way I see it. I think in the act of drawing, there's something in that brush stroke or that arm movement, that you feel love. Hopefully, maybe the audience will see it.”

“All I'm doing is representing a [moment in time], and Hong Kong [moves] at a pace that is so fast, so I hope that my work is remembered that way, that it preserves something about it,” Jonathan shared.

You sense the love the artist feels for the city in the works displayed at “Neon,” vividly painting an emotion that draws you into the scene. For those familiar with Hong Kong, you can almost hear the sounds of the streets, smell the picture, feel the heat — suddenly, you're in Sham Shui Po.

Everyone is An Art Collector

Bringing accessible art from local and international galleries to the city for eleven years, AAF’s theme for the year “I Am an Art Collector” rings true to its mission. Travelling the Fair, and even experiencing Jonathan’s works through a unique speakeasy experience, the often untouchable –— and expensive — world of art has never been so tangible.

Kiyoshi echoed: “Sometimes art can be [inaccessible], from the artist’s standpoint, and also from the purchaser or viewer. I think Affordable Art Fair does a really good job of promoting Hong Kong, hence, the amazing investment they've done for John, [and] a lot of others, too. On a grassroots scale, it's extremely important.”

The Hustle Never Stops

When asked about his favorite thing about Hong Kong, Jonathan shared: “It's the working-class hustle, which is a reminder [of] we're all doing in Hong Kong. We're still in the process.”

Up next for Jonathan, he’ll be launching a new project with one of Hong Kong’s largest property developers next month, alongside many other soon-to-be-announced collaborations.

Kiyoshi runs a charity alongside a few of his close friends called More Good which serves nutritious meals to those in need throughout the city. His Hong Kong-born and based hot sauce brand, Flagrant Hot Sauce regularly hosts pop-ups, restaurant collaborations, and other events.

Affordable Art Fair 2024

Affordable Art Fair will continue to run until Sunday, May 19, 2024. Its public opening hours will run from 12 pm to 9 pm on Friday, May 17, 10 am to 7 pm on Saturday, May 18, and 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday, May 19. Guests are welcome to take part in Family Mornings on Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 12 pm.

While Too Far East’s barber shop sets up shop with the fair, the “Neon” speakeasy will open for guests daily at 6 pm. Representing a collective of artists and galleries from over 18 countries, the event boasts a wide range of art all priced under HK$100,000.

Find out more and purchase your tickets here.

UAENA, are you excited to watch the South Korean pop star IU perform live this May? We feel you! And things are getting even more exciting as the HEREH IU pop-up store makes its way to Hong Kong.

Following the announcement of the highly anticipated concert of South Korea’s “nation’s little sister” in Hong Kong on May 25, ELF ASIA announced that they will be holding a pop-up in Sheung Wan. You can soon get your hands on official merchandise and a Hong Kong-exclusive tee (which is limited to one per size for each colour).

Opening on May 16 – her birthday – the store will be here until May 30. Fans can visit and check out items like accessory sets, T-shirts, and sweatshirts. If you don’t have the light stick, and contemplating whether to get it or not, this is your sign! The store will also sell her official light stick, along with a photocard bender set, a sticker set, a postcard book, and more.

Before visiting, make sure you bring your own bag since they will not be providing shopping bags. Also, note that they will only be accepting electronic payments, so bring your cards and shop ‘til you drop!

Location: 38 Sai Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 12 PM to 8 PM

IU’s ‘2024 H.E.R World Tour’ kicked off in Seoul last March. Her tour will include 18 cities in Asia, Europe, and the US. For more information about her tour, check here.

Make space on your bookshelves, bibliophiles, because the popular floating book fair by MV Doulos Hope has finally docked in Hong Kong!

To run from now until May 26 at the Ocean Terminal port in Harbour City, the book fair offers over 2,000 book titles of various genres, along with souvenirs and merchandise, all available at a budget-friendly price.

Like in other countries, Doulos Hope’s fair tickets in Hong Kong are released weekly, priced at HK$20 for adults. Meanwhile, tickets for children aged 12 and below and senior citizens aged 65 and above are free. To secure your passes, click here.

After visiting the book fair, visitors can also unwind and take a sip of their favourite cup of joe at the Hope Cafe, located inside the cruise ship.

Doulos Hope’s Hong Kong fair marks the ship’s first anniversary since setting sail and relaunching in May 2023. Prior to the city, the fair also landed in various parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and the Philippines.

The fair is open only from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:30 PM to 8:45 PM. To get the latest updates on Doulos Hope in Hong Kong, you can give their Instagram and Facebook pages a follow. Tap your fellow bookworms and secure your tickets!

Hey, Trailblazers! Popular adventure role-playing game “Honkai: Star Trail” is celebrating their first anniversary with an exciting lineup of activities, including an offline event series in Hong Kong Ocean Park from May to June!

Get ready to take part in a real-life adventure and explore a Penacony-themed landscape full of immersive experiences like the 6.4 metre-long train and a 3.4 metre-tall giant capsule machine right inside the park. There will also be food combos, new merchandise, and light and shadow performances you can check out during the event.

Ocean Park Annual Pass Members and valid Ocean Park day admission ticket holders can enter the park and check out the installations – but if you register online and visit on the designated “Theme Days” you’ll receive an “Anniversary Ticket” you can keep as a souvenir.

Aside from that, you will also get a “Mission Stamp Card” that you can fill with stamps by completing exclusive missions like “One-Year Anniversary Booth Mission,” “Park Hunt Missions,” “Roller Coaster Missions,” and “Social Media Missions!” What’s in it for you? Well, you can redeem three random Anniversary Character Collectible Cards when you accumulate 3, 6, and 10 stamps respectively!

Reservations are done in five batches with the third opening on May 10 for May 25-26 and June 1-2 theme days. Check here for more information.

Tattoos – as evidenced by many – are both a work of art and (sometimes even) a form of therapy. Using the body as a canvas for his work is Hong Kong-based tattoo artist Alex Fu. His incredible calligraphy tattoos are rendered on the arms, legs, and chests of many. They span half-sleeves and full-body suits, though more conservative enthusiasts can also opt for more modest name stamps.

“I have a professional tattoo artist friend named Sean Ting. Later, I became his apprentice and trained at ST TATTOO HK for several years,” shared Alex of his journey. “In the meantime, I learned Chinese calligraphy from an outside class, and that’s when I started to grow my interest in Chinese calligraphy.”

His works evoke the timeless beauty of shūfǎ or traditional Chinese calligraphy. He’s often seen working with seal and cursive styles, immortalising meaningful words and phrases – such as family names – unto his clients.

“I believe calligraphy and tattooing have many [things in common],” Alex pointed out. “Both require a significant amount of time to understand, learn, and practice. Most importantly, they require genuine love and devotion if one wants to advance in the art.”

Of course, Alex isn’t one to pigeonhole his style. His words have a flow: diaphanous strokes cascading down delicate skin in shades of black and red. “I love combining words with tattoo designs, allowing the fonts to merge in the shape of the body,” he explained.

It’s this kind of personalisation that appeals to many of Alex’s clients; it’s also the reason why his Instagram account is so gratifying to see. His tattoos envelop the body so beautifully, undulating through manly contours and feminine curves.

“I am inspired by the form and momentum of calligraphy and thought it would be great to combine fonts with the body's structure. That’s the reason I started to build up my specialty in this area,” he said.

Surprisingly, a significant portion of his clientele is Westerners – travellers who venture into Hong Kong and look to take something back with them. “There are not many tattoo artists specializing in Eastern calligraphy outside of Asia,” Alex said. “[Westerners] might feel more comfortable working with tattoo artists whose native language is Chinese so that the meaning and words chosen will be more accurate.”

Obviously, Alex will never make the mistake that Ariana Grande did when she tattooed the word Japanese word for “barbecue grill” on her hand thinking it meant “seven rings” (a nod to her then-latest single).

In Hong Kong, Alex’s art is gaining more momentum as mainstream acceptance of tattoos has overturned previous taboos. Admittedly, older Hong Kongers may not be as open to this type of art, but Alex is assured that more people are open to it now.

“It’s because of the trend; tattoo exhibitions and platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest also allow people to expose themselves to tattooing as the art that it is and can be.”

From the dazzling yellow brick building in the heart of Wan Chai’s historic cluster to the multicoloured works of art inside, Ernest Chang is an artist who imprints vibrant bursting hues in his wake. Embedded into all of his pieces is a perspective that’s deeply informed by his experience of the world – one that washes out any traces of the colours red and green.

Founder of local art hub The Stallery, and famed for his tongue-in-cheek multi-format works, Ernest has gained a reputation in Hong Kong and beyond for pieces that smash together asynchronous cultural references, with undercurrents of commentary on our zeitgeist. Having deuteranopic colour blindness, his creations are chock full of in-your-face colour contrasts and strong compositions.

Giving us a tinted glimpse into how Hong Kong has coloured his practice, discover how Ernest has evolved his vision into a storied career as one of the city’s most iconic contemporary pop artists, and how he has manifested a unique artistic community through The Stallery.

How did you transform your colour-blindness into an asset?

In school, mixing colours was difficult for me, so that pushed out painting from early on. I ended up with photography and felt like I could just use the world’s colours and not just have to mix my own. As any creative would tell you, photography is a good gateway to exploring how you see things, that’s why I picked it up. I got drawn to taking photos of people and mainly focused on fashion and portrait photography at first.

I had a business going mostly for portraiture and headshots in my signature ‘everything in black and white,’ but over the years I got a lot of feedback where people wanted colour. So ultimately, they were complaining about how they looked a little orange or green in their skin tones because I was colour-correcting them wrong!

I thought, ‘Maybe it’s time for me to go back to where I first started in art,’ which was drawing anime and cartoon characters, because as a kid I would watch so many of these things and I would always be copying them. I felt like I needed to go back to my original inspiration.

So that’s what I’ve been doing for the past seven years. My practice has been mostly about this type of contemporary pop culture mixed with classical art. I started clashing these ideas together because in the world that we live in, and also in the generation we grew up in, there’s so much dichotomy and ‘bipolarism’ that it became what my art is about – those clashing two poles.

Has your style evolved since you came to Hong Kong?

I wouldn’t necessarily say my style, form and colour scheme necessarily came out of a Hong Kong cultural context, but there’s finding the confidence to clash things that are new and old. I see it all the time in Hong Kong and somehow it just works artistically for me, [so] that really inspired me.

I see it all the time in Wan Chai. It’s like having the Blue House and the oldest post office right next to us, while [the city is] always building new things, it’s just this sense of modern mixing with tradition. This is what Hong Kong brings out and what changed my practice.

Even in the EnChroma art show that I had shown at The Stallery with my collective, Workers of Art (WoA), a lot of the artists were older than 55 [years old]. A lot of them have a different set of philosophy and artistic ideas coming from, say, a calligraphy background or a traditional landscape painting background. You can see Chinese influence in it, but it mostly felt grounded in Western art history. I think that’s what Hong Kong brings, the city can keep up with the times, but it still drags along this bag of tradition.

Did you ever feel restricted by “traditional” modes of art? How did you navigate their rules and conventions?

It’s the idea that we aren’t represented in Western art. Most institutions in the art world are built on Western art, and we miss a lot of chances to talk about Asian culture or even Chinese culture. If you would like to talk about that you would have to go to a specific type of museum, for a specific type of niche art – and I don’t think that [Asian art] should be niche.

That’s sort of what triggered me to do my series, ‘Famous by Proxy.’ I was going through Europe and seeing all these pieces by the masters, Rembrandts and all that. They’re stunning and incredible pieces of art, no doubt, but at the same time, after all these hundreds of years, we still haven’t found the equivalent of something as famous as ‘The Night Watch’ in Asian art. It’s not comparable when you can name hundreds of Western paintings but like ten Asian paintings.

For me, the ‘Famous by Proxy’ series is about using something that was already famous and injecting it with symbols of Asian culture and all the things that we like. By flipping these icons, we find it funny, because we’ve been looking at things that are so ridiculous, but we accept them because they’re in our history books. You accept this as ‘good art’ because you’ve seen it so many times, but I hope when people see some form of Asian culture in it, their values of art will be questioned.

Speaking of shifting perspectives, what was it like being able to see the world in full colour for the first time with the enChroma lenses?

Being able to see colour in a more vibrant way, I’m trying to go back to basics and understand colour at its foundational level, then I can start using them in a new way that I’ve never been able to perceive with colours I couldn’t see before – browns, greys, pinks. I want to use colours that constantly confuse me, and with these glasses, hopefully be able to produce a series.

Did the glasses change how you approached your artistic process?

When I didn’t have the EnChroma glasses, I based my understanding of colour on Pantone codes or hex codes – things that are quite mathematical. It felt like a lot of fine artists would be snobbish about using digital mediums to produce work, but for me, it’s essential to my art-making. Without it, I wouldn’t be able to make such complex pieces with so much colour.

There is this kind of gatekeeping in the art world. “Real art is oil on canvas” or something like that, as opposed to an iPad drawing. I think it’s slowly changing, but I’m showing more of the process so that I can help people understand that it’s not just done in a click. Telling people about the artmaking process helps them grow [their understanding] with the times.

I grew up in an age where we had to learn a completely new set of skills, while also fighting against an old set of skills, this push and pull. I feel like that is why we have to show more transparency, showing the whole process [of our art-making], or some people are just going to think ‘Oh it was just produced in a factory!’

A lot of your exhibitions incorporate an element of this art-making ‘process,’ interactivity, or are also paired with workshops. Do you believe that aspect of participation is essential to art, and why?

The Stallery is called The Stallery because it’s both a studio and a gallery.

In Hong Kong, the rent is so high and all the [operating] costs are so high, it’s super rare someone can be in the position that I am. I’m very blessed to have all this to support my art career, and that’s why I try to involve the public as much as possible.

Now I’ve changed my studio practice to be more at home, but a year or two ago I would just be in [The Stallery] silk-screening, and it was open for people to come in. They did, so they would come in while I would be working, walk around, and then leave. My process and my artwork are both as important as each other, not just the final piece.

How would you describe the artistic and curatorial vision behind The Stallery?

I’m trying to bring back the modern atelier. Well, I mean I’m romanticizing a time that I’ve never lived in, but it was that golden era of artists in workshops where they also did salon-style shows with their friends. That’s what I want in Hong Kong.

I don’t believe in galleries that act like the artwork is just a product in a supermarket for you. Like it’s packaged and delivered without any kind of understanding of the craft or skill that goes into it. Seeing the places where works are made, you understand that these things are human endeavours, and they’re all based on passion, energy, blood, and tears. You know it’s not something that comes out of thin air just to get delivered and hung up on a white wall.

Seeing all these facets in art-making is more messy, and I don’t think the white wall galleries would like that, because they’re about selling to luxury clients and cleaning it up for everyone. But for me, art should be down-up, instead of up-down. It should be more grassroots, it should be influencing everyone so that they can influence me as well.

So, who is The Stallery for?

It’s really for the weirdos, like me. People that feel like the Hong Kong art and culture scene have left them out. It’s time to change up the demographic of gallery visitors.

It's way more communal here, and that’s why I kind of picked the Wan Chai area. For me, it’s about not having so much of a ‘bougie’ look [to The Stallery], so that people aren’t scared to come in and explore!

What do you hope to see in the future of Hong Kong’s art scene, and how would you introduce it?

I’ve made a lot of work for the past 6 years, I’ve just been doing shows non-stop, and I feel like I need to use the clout that I have built over time to promote other people as well.

The gallery is not just about me, the gallery is about the community. So by connection or by proxy, there’s more respect for the other artists in Hong Kong. At the end of the day, if I can show the Hong Kong audience that there’s a new atmosphere rising up in the air, maybe they will be able to accept more new art.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Location: The Stallery, G/F, 82A Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

Keep up with Ernest on Instagram at @iamernestchang and learn more about The Stallery by clicking here.

Visiting Hong Kong Disneyland Resort soon? Well, prepare for battle as they are throwing an epic Marvel bash until June 10 – and you can join them! Team up with your Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spiderman, and other Marvel superheroes to battle against the enemies and march to victory.

Calling out the attention of kids and kids-at-heart! Fight Hydra and her forces in “Find Your Super Power: Battle for Stark Expo” as she attempts to steal the arc reactor. As night falls, prepare to rally alongside your favourite Marvel characters and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and guests to protect the city as Hydra’s drones fill the skies at “Find Your Super Power: Battle in the Sky.”

Looking to re-energize after all the clashes? Fuel up with a series of new Marvel-themed treats all around the resort, including Iron Man Burger Combo, the Quantum Hot Dog, the Hulked-out Super Power Churro, or the new Spider-Man Popcorn Bucket! To complete your meal, you can get the Avengers’ Sipper with Super Soda, featuring interchangeable Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man icons!

By the way, you can also get a chance to chitchat with the Marvel superheroes as they will be patrolling throughout Tomorrowland! Seize this opportunity to get tips and tricks from the best. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents! A quick tip: your superhero attire could extend special invitations or secret missions to the most heroic guests for super close encounters with the superheroes – so, plan your outfit!

That’s not all! There are tons of activities awaiting you here. For more information, read here.