My paintings are about remnants of the human struggles in the
urban world. Growing up in the refugee slum of the then British colony of Hong
Kong in the 50's, I was confronted and surrounded by concrete buildings that
sprung up everywhere like barriers. These were also class barriers where I found
myself being suppressed and trapped. I was in awe with the overwhelming
blockage. But yet, I also felt hope because they also provide sanctuaries for
those who sought them. The memories of staring incessantly at those walls and
environments have deeply engraved in my mind.
Whenever I look at walls in back alleys, a mundane object on the shelf or a lock
by the door, I find myself inspired by them. They reflect our existence and also
our efforts in surviving that existence in the concrete jungle. These elements
also bear witness to history and human condition. All these elements strengthen
the sense of human sanctuary. When there is effort, there is hope. My paintings
are poetic expressions of such efforts.