By Isabel Wong
Hong Kong isn't often regarded as the most artistic city in Asia, but judging by its recent attempts in holding a series of massive art events that created a good buzz, it is obvious that it has got cracking with setting foot in the art market. From Art Basel and Le French May to the 1,600 pandas at PMQ, the city has been continuously showered with art lately. Although art is getting bigger in Hong Kong, according to Samantha Li it has still got a long way to go.
Samantha Li, the creator of P on P (Painting on Photos) art form, is an unapologetically local artist who is born and raised in Hong Kong. Li’s quirky art style has drawn countless eyeballs locally and internationally, and her pieces were exhibited at the Musee du Louvre in 2013. But Li does not see this experience in Paris as the most special moment in her art career: “I would not regard it [exhibition at the Louvre] as the most inspiring event in my life.” Surprisingly, Li’s collaboration with Shine Skills Centre operated by VTC Group in Hong Kong is regarded by her as a “more special experience.” Li held a few workshops for the disabled and she realized the power of photography and art. “Actually, they [the disabled] are capable of doing art. We often find it difficult to communicate with them, but through art, I could see what they are thinking in their minds.” To Li, having exceptional skills and techniques doesn’t make one a great artist. “They [the disabled] really have their own thoughts but society often labels them as the vulnerable bunch. It causes them to miss a lot of opportunities.”
Art and photography can help many people speak their minds. This is also why Li decided to combine the painting and photography together to create the unique P on P art form. “Photography reflects reality while painting has no limits. I am trying to make both of them correspond to each other.” To Li, stopping and thinking is the most important process in art appreciation: “If I cannot tell what an art work is trying to say, I can never realize the value of it.” Therefore, the philosophy behind Samantha P on P is to “make you think through art.” As Li said, “you don’t jump straight to a conclusion about whether an art work is beautiful or not.” The true beauty lies in the message an art work is trying to convey.
Among all the works Li has produced, her favorite remains her first-ever piece of P on P. Li says the piece is called Song Bird. “I took a photo of an ostrich in Kenya then showed the photo to my friends and asked what they saw in it,” she explains. Answers ranges from an angry bird to a hungry ostrich. But Li has a different interpretation: “the ostrich looks as if it is chasing for something from its expression.” So Li painted a microphone and a headphone on the ostrich to ascribe enthusiastic characteristics to it.
As an international financial hub, is Hong Kong really the best place for local artists like Li to survive? “I receive collaboration invitations from corporations at times and they often expect to pay nothing in return,” Li relates, “then I was like, do you really think art could be free of charge?” This speaks to the truth about creative industries in Hong Kong. According to Li, freelance artists are often considered to be volunteers and Li describes such behavior as disrespectful to creative professionals. But Li doesn’t think it is policy makers’ fault, but rather a lack of education. “It seems Hongkongers are not familiar with art gallery etiquette. Most of the time, when children come in, they just ignore the ‘Do Not Touch’ signage and touch everything.” Li still thinks Hong Kong needs some more time before a well-established cultural environment becomes a reality.
When asked about how the behavior of audiences from different cultural backgrounds differ, Li said, “Hong Kong people just take photos of the works or check out merchandise products. But visitors in Paris spend a lot of time studying each painting, especially works they are not familiar with like paintings in Hong Kong style.” “Artists have to survive, particularly in Hong Kong. If we earn nothing from doing art, there is no way we can encourage the art scene in Hong Kong to prosper,” Li said. It’s hard out there for local artists in Hong Kong, but Li believes that the city will eventually get there. “What the government is doing is not as bad as we've criticized. At least the West Kowloon Cultural District could serve as a good start.”
For those who would like to invest in Hong Kong art market, Li urges people to visit the artists in person at places like JCCAC (Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre) and studio complexes in Hong Kong. After all, showing your interest in artists’ works is the kind of support artists value the most. Prices tell us very little about the real value of art pieces.
The Samantha P on P Gallery is located at PMQ, a newly refurbished site that used to be the Police Married Quarter in Central District. The site now serves as a hub for creative entrepreneurship that has piqued the interest of HongKongers.
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