There is a saying that Hong Kong is a cultural desert, but these five artists prove that the city’s art scene is still blooming and diverse. Be inspired, have a laugh or feel the love from these artists’ works, which range from quirky and self-deprecating pieces commenting on Hong Kong society to intricate and surrealist artworks.
Cuson Lo
A name familiar to many Hongkongers, Cuson Lo’s work has been featured at the Hong Kong Book Fair as well as in commercials. The artist, who is known for his caricature of himself, is loved for taking inspiration from down-to-earth topics such as the social situation in Hong Kong and not being afraid to be a bit self-deprecating.
For example, in this comic strip, he pokes fun at the way he thinks his cat sees him versus the way his cat actually perceives him (as old and sleazy).
In this illustration, he laments the loss of Tung Po Kitchen, another eatery with a long history in Hong Kong.
Mr n Mrs Moon
Artist Mrs Moon only started posting her adventures with Mr Moon in 2021, but she has already amassed more than 128,000 followers on Instagram with her short videos and illustrations of a married couple’s everyday life.
Her namesake is known for being a gong nui — a Cantonese term that translates directly to “Hong Kong girl” but which sometimes connotes a negative stereotype about Hong Kong women suffering from princess syndrome.
For example, here, Mrs Moon struggles with the tempation of a tasty biscuit, which is, unfortunately, high in calories.
Mrs Moon is also known for her motion graphic skills, which can be seen in this cover by Mr n Mrs Moon of K-pop girl group Blackpink’s single “Pink Venom”.
Pen So
Pen So’s black and white sketchings might not be as eye-catching as many other artists, but his intricate drawings of Hong Kong sights are imbued with understated elegance and a sense of nostalgia.
Two works that show off his style are this one featuring his take on Hong Kong’s iconic trams and another capturing the now-capsized Jumbo Floating Restaurant.
Sarah Tse
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, Sarah Tse is a surrealist and mixed-media artist who takes inspiration from unusual objects and themes. Her work is featured in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
“The Night Wolves” is an NFT featuring a serene scene of wolves, an eagle and an owl with a quiet and peaceful ambiance.
Tse is also a fan of exploring different techniques, such as the cyanotype — a sun-printing process that produces a continuous tone image of Prussian Blue.
BingO and LittleX
Nat. P came up with her cartoon characters, BingO and LittleX, to share her message of environmentalism and positive thinking. BingO has a red, yellow and blue circle above his head to spread the positive message of recycling, while LittleX has an X mark showing how one can learn from mistakes. The two brothers’ adventures, documented on their Instagram page, have even attracted a collaboration with Taiwanese clothing and accessories brand Penker.
Here, BingO can be seen poking fun at his brother LittleX with a rather unusual portrait of him.
Nat. P sometimes shares videos of herself sketching, such as this one of her with the two brothers, which conveys a comforting message about companionship to those who are alone.
