Interview with a ink painter - Peter Siu Pak Keung

1) Who is the artist?

Siu Pak Keung was born in Hong Kong. He graduated in the specialist courses of Hong Kong Visual Art Center (sculpture, ceramic and printmaking), Diploma of Chinese ink painting of School of Continuing and Professional Studies The Chinese University of Hong Kong. 'Gen Kan Workshop' is set up in Fo Tan.

2) When did you start to be an contemporary artist?

Peter retired and started his 'art-life'  together with his wife around six years ago. At the very beginning of his art-life, Peter tried to learn making sculptural objects for two years. However, he later on discovers that ink painting is his favorite hobby. That's why he is still concentrating in this field and addicted to ink painting.

3) Why do you want to be an contemporary artist?

Actually, Peter is not intended to be an contemporary artist. Ink painting is a challenge for him. Peter feels extremely satisfied and happy when he completes every piece of work. He is trying to make improvement every time by using different materials and skills in ink painting.

4) Which artist inspire Peter?

          

Peter is inspired by Claude Monet who is a founder of French impressionist painting. Haystacks is the title of a series of impressionist painting by Claude Monet, which is known for its use of repetition to show differences in perception of light across various time of day. It inspires Peter a lot in painting styles and characters.

5) What is the form, media, materials used of your artwork?

Peter's artwork is usually in the form of paper. Painting tools include brush, newspaper, soft and hard plastics plate etc. These tools react with ink to produce special effects and layering. Appreciators can obtain different views and feelings from just a piece of artwork when they are standing at different positions and angles.

6) Why do you like using newspaper to add texture in your artwork?

Newspaper is a very good material to add texture and layering in the ink painting. When Peter squeezes the newspaper, it can create infinite possibilities and inspirations. Although it is a simple material, the natural shapes and patterns created are incredible. Apart from using newspaper, Peter has also used hard and soft plastic plate in ink painting. Tools can be found everywhere in his Fo Tan studio.

7) Which one is your favorite artwork?

Peter says that usually the latest artwork is his favorite artwork. Why? The mystery and break through brought by the new artwork catches his eyes and absorbs him into it. Like his new artwork at the moment, he is intended to play with the contrasting light and heavy.

8) What is the artwork about?

Peter's artwork 'Dreams of cruising around the country I-IIl' can reflect Hong Kong's current situation. The whole artwork represents that Hong Kong harbor is becoming much narrower and only small lakes are left due to reclamation these years.

9) What are the difficulties of being a contemporary artist?

The most difficult thing for Peter is to express different ideas by keeping its own painting styles. Every individual artist has his or her own character. Every stroke on the the painting is showing their personality. How to keep the consistency? It is a huge problem that Peter is facing.

10) What is your coming movement?

In the future, Peter will create a very enormous ink painting. It's size will be even lager than 247 cm x 123 cm (biggest size of his existing artwork). Various new skills will be put in the new artwork. Peter is looking forward to it.