{"id":185719,"date":"2021-11-10T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2021-11-10T02:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=185719"},"modified":"2024-12-02T11:02:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T03:02:39","slug":"interview-with-alvin-lam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/interview-with-alvin-lam\/","title":{"rendered":"Alvin C. K. Lam paints moments from Hong Kong\u2019s heritage that are quickly disappearing"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a city as busy and dense as Hong Kong, it\u2019s no surprise that there\u2019s so much happening in every nook and cranny. Whether it\u2019s people dining at crowded dai pai dongs<\/a>, vendors setting up stalls at street markets<\/a>, or hidden barbershops<\/a>, we often don\u2019t stop to appreciate the little things that make Hong Kong special. Which is why Alvin C. K. Lam has been setting up his painting station in front of local shops to capture candid moments that\u2019ll be cherished for a lifetime.<\/p>\n

We chat with local artist, Alvin Lam<\/h2>\n

When did your interest in art start? What made you transition from sketching to painting using watercolours?<\/h3>\n

No kidding, I think I picked up paint brushes before picking up chopsticks! My earliest memory is of drawing and doodling. My mom is a Chinese calligrapher and painter so she influenced my interest in art. Comic books also aroused my interest in drawing. Growing up, people always said art was never going to earn me a living. But art has always felt like more than just a hobby, even since I was young.<\/p>\n

I later moved to the United States to study and my art teacher was amazing. As my mentor, she inspired me to explore art in different mediums; I experimented with sketching, acrylic, and oil painting. Watercolour is, in fact, new to me; I only started using it early last year. My ex-colleague passed her unused watercolour kit to me and I didn\u2019t know what to do with it until I traveled to Kyoto for a watercolour sketching class. It was a quick crash course and I\u2019m so thankful to the instructor for equipping me with all the techniques. This was the beginning of my watercolour journey!<\/p>\n

You spend hours in front of shop fronts and it takes multiple days to finish your work. What\u2019s the challenge in that? Is it usually difficult for you to find a space to set up your area?<\/h3>\n

I go back at least five times to finish my painting; each time I sit for about three hours. And every time I go back, there will be surprises. Things will be shifted and it\u2019s never exactly the same as when I last saw it, but I find that pretty fun instead of seeing it as a drawback! And the best thing about watercolour is how portable it is, so setting up my space isn’t usually too difficult. But there are times when I have to nestle into a narrow and tight space, and I always worry about getting in people\u2019s way \u2013 whether it\u2019s passerbys or customers who come to these shops. I often have to learn the routine of the shop next to the one I\u2019m painting, so that I can set up my corner there.<\/p>\n

The biggest challenge is the summer heat (so dehydrating), the humidity, and the mosquitoes! I also can\u2019t get too comfortable as I have to be prepared to be on-the-go any minute, so I\u2019m mostly painting on my lap and my neck gets sore from looking up and down. And you get brain-fried from all the concentration. But it\u2019s all worth it in the end.<\/p>\n

\"Alvin
Painting with the noise of hundreds of birds chirping at Yuen Po Street Bird Market!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your paintings beautifully capture disappearing scenes of Hong Kong. How do you think art \u2013 especially paintings \u2013 plays a role in preserving memories?<\/h3>\n

For me, my subject and settings are more than just a scene, it\u2019s a moment that tells a story. There\u2019s a saying that goes, people don\u2019t remember what you did, but how you made them feel. And these paintings evoke different feelings, whether it\u2019s nostalgia, happiness, or even sadness.<\/p>\n

All my paintings are focused in one place and one character and dive into an intimate moment with the subject. And when you look at each piece, I want the audience to experience the full process that went into the making of it. From picking the next shop, to getting to know the vendor, to making it all come to life in my sketchbook, it\u2019s all a process. These are disappearing scenes and shops that many don\u2019t stop to look at and appreciate. So that\u2019s what I want to do with my paintings: to showcase the unsung heroes of Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

Hong Kong is a busy, distracting place! What tends to catch your eye? How do you decide on your next project?<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m looking for shops that look particularly untouched, as if they\u2019ve been frozen in time from decades ago. When I was younger, I didn\u2019t see the value of these local shops but, as we grow older, we realise that these shops and businesses are disappearing. Oftentimes, it\u2019s the chaos I find beauty in. And for my next project, I am always looking for more variety in my setting and different textures.<\/p>\n

Can you share some heart-warming reactions you received from shopkeepers whom you painted?<\/h3>\n

For the Wong\u2019s Banana Stall<\/em> painting, I was very shy and scared to approach the shopkeeper \u2013 she seemed so feisty! I brought my gear with me at least three times without even asking her if I could paint her shop. It really takes some guts! And since I take my time to sketch \u2013 in the middle of the road at Fa Yuen Street \u2013 I needed the people in the area to be okay with that.<\/p>\n

So then one day I went back, mustered up the courage and asked \u201cWhat\u2019s the worst that could happen?\u201d My heart was racing when I brought my stool over \u2013 I tried to avoid eye-contact with her, I could sense her glaring at me! She later came over to me \u2013 a petite lady with a strong voice \u2013 and asked \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d and I sheepishly said \u201cI\u2019m painting your store.\u201d She misunderstood and thought I was jotting down something to report her and assured me that she has a license. She was surprised to know I was simply just drawing her stall \u2013 it\u2019s just such a rare sight in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

\"Alvin
Alvin with Ms Wong, all happy smiles and warm feelings!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ms Wong eventually was okay with me painting and I was so relieved. Her reaction when I gave her a framed print of her shop is something I\u2019ll never forget. She was so happy that she was literally jumping on the street! She is the sweetest lady, she couldn\u2019t stop talking and smiling and told me she\u2019ll show the painting to her grandkids. And now whenever I pass by her stall, she never fails to greet me (and sneakily slips in a few extra guavas in my shopping bag!).<\/p>\n

And also, The Alleyway Barber<\/em> was a tricky one. He was a rather quiet man and he just let me be without striking up any conversations. I\u2019d catch him taking naps in between haircuts and he was reluctant to tell me his name. He simply said, \u201cJust call me old man.\u201d He thought he was too old and why would anyone want to paint him. And when I showed him his print, he quietly examined it, and said \u201cCould you give me more hair?\u201d To which I laughed and his print exclusively has more hair!<\/p>\n

Tell us about your first solo exhibition, A Moment in Time. How did that come about and how has the exhibition changed your relationship with your paintings?<\/h3>\n

I walked by Shing Wong Street quite a few times and was always curious about this neighbourhood. The shop with the bright blue gate (the one featured in Treasure Trove<\/em>)\u00a0particularly caught my attention. I talked to the shopkeeper, Vincent and showed him my postcards and asked if there was a possibility for him to sell them there. Instead, he suggested ways we both could collaborate. I also found out that the very building of the shop is 70 years old as of this year! It was Vincent who suggested holding the exhibition to promote my art, and to get to know the history of Shing Wong Street.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t a fancy gallery but I find the setting of the exhibition so meaningful and it suits my art. I also learned a lot about logistics and event management through this exhibition. It was intense with a lot of behind-the-scenes work, for which I\u2019m grateful to get hands-on experience.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Alvin C.K. Lam (@alvinckl)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n