1. Could you tell us about your recent works of creation?
How is people's feedback to the work?
"The Moving Mao" was originally called "The Moving Canvas". I always want to create an interactive platform to translate body gesture to visuals, in simple words drawing with your body. I think that is more expressive and direct. Webcam is used to capture the movement, and I use Processing (a programming platform) to make software to react with the movement. My recent approach is to simulate a canvas floating in the air and you can use your body gesture to manipulate it. That's why it was called "The Moving Canvas".
Many people appreciate the visual and the way it moves. Many found interesting using Chairman Mao's portrait in the artwork. Yet I want to know more about how they feel about it.
2. When did you start creating any design work? Could you tell us about your first work?
I used to draw a lot when I was studying secondary school, then in the university I learned to use computer to draw. (although I wasnt taking any design or art courses). I did my first personal website in 2000, I used Flash 4 and Director 6.
3. After you graduated the university majored in engineering, how did you start your career as designer? Is there any special reason you chose interactive media art as your media?
I came back to Hong Kong and my first job is a programmer, and I fought for a chance to do company's website. My second job web developer in which I need to do both design and programming. Then I went to web design agency to officially start my career as designer.
I chose interactive media because it combines my interest and computer knowledge. Creating interactive work is like making a toy. You play what you created, and you make changes and you test again, its lot of fun.
4. Let me ask about your latest work "The Moving Mao".
What is the theme of this work? Do you have any special reason to choose a coffee bar as the place to show the work?
This project was suggested by ēpöch café because they wanted to showcase some video work inside the café, they contacted Videotage and they suggested to do a interactive installation instead of showing video only. As the resident artist of Videotage, I was invited to create a new work for this project.
This year we celebrate 10th anniversary of returning to China, but many HK people still feel confused about China. It is a place of entertainment and opportunities, but also crime and poisoned foods. We hate and love her. This ambiguous feeling is reflected by the blurry portrait of Chair Mao in my work.
5. Congratulation on the Gold award in the 12th ifva awards!
The idea of converting the stock market information into music is really outstanding.
How did you come up with this idea? Is there anything hard especially in creating this work?
Thanks you. Hong Kong is a place full of information, no matter its useful or trash. I was always looking for chances to translate the surrounding information to another form. I actually had this idea 2 years ago, and I made a prototype, I remade the work for ifva last year. The hard part is to find an old-fashioned keypad, which is unexpectedly rare in the market.
6. Your basis ideas on works such as "converting stock market information into music" or "using body gesture is easier than painting by brush" (The Moving Mao) are really unique, smart and also make us feel close, or easily-accessible. How do you usually come up with the idea of works? What kind of things or moments inspires you, or what is your image source?
Please give us an example of what inspired you lately, if any.
Ideas always comes from things in the surrounding, city phenomenon, sometime purely fantasy or just silly thoughts. My knowledge allows me to reproduce and extend this thoughts in computer, and create something people can experience, Recently I want to create a work about stress and sleeping problem, a survey said its common in Hong Kong.
7. What would you like to share with your audience through your works?
Usually I don't express my personal feeling in my work, I just twist something in the real world and project in the virtual computer space. I provide an alternative perspective for viewers, its up to the viewers to make comments.
8. Who is your favorite artist (in any genre)?
There are too remarkable works out there, but I like interactive works from Toshio Iwai (media artist in Japan), which combines music and interactivity.
9. Could you choose one from your work especially you like or very impressive to you? Please tell us reason, too.
I am quite happy with the result of , webcam based work tends to be sluggish and require fast computer, but it runs so smooth even on regular computers.
10. What do you think of creative scene in Hong Kong now, compared with other countries?
How do you want to be involved in Hong Kong creative scene?
Its getting better, many young artist/designers are becoming more established, but its still very hard to do art/design for living in Hong Kong. May be the creative scene is so dry, it is easier to get noticed if you do great works in HK, comparing to other countries.
I will keep creating new works.
11. What kind of works do you want to create in the future?
Is there any plan for next creation?
The approach I used in has lots of potentials, I have 1 to 2 ideas riding on the same visual manipulation method, both will be webcam and projection based.
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| The Moving Mao |
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| Forgotten War |
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| Happy Pylones |
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| The Taste of Love |
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| The Sound of Market |
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| Video Brush |
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| TV Clock |
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