Media Reports

>>>>>>>Old Meets New: Local Artist Gary Yeung Paints a Picture of Provincial Hong Kong



>>>>>>>本土畫家楊復始——畫出香港本色

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我們應如何把喜愛的地方記錄下來?有人用文字,有人用照片,本土畫家楊復始(Gary Yeung)則選擇用畫筆﹑白紙表達他對香港的喜愛之情,把它美麗的面貌一一記錄。並不一定是著名的景點,或是具有歷史價值的東西,才會成為楊復始繪畫的對象。「有很多細微的東西,容易被港人忽略,但它們總有其存在價值。若不抓緊機會把它記錄下來,它們很快就會湮沒在城市中,在人們的記憶中逐漸淡去。」
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作為一個土生土長的香港人,楊復始對香港有很多看法,一種使命感隨之而生,他自認為有義務把香港美麗的地方記錄下來。「香港有很多精彩的東西,它們都很值得我們去回憶。不論是人﹑事﹑物﹑建築物﹑大自然亦然。」為了讓更多人接觸他的作品,他舉辦了數次合展及個人畫展。今年六月,他將再度舉辦一個名為「Hong Kong Colors」的畫作展覽。「我希望人們在看過我的畫作後,發現香港有很多被人遺忘的地方,是如此美麗,喚起大家對香港的回憶。」
這個展覽約有四十幅作品,分有兩個類別,一種是現場速寫(live sketch),另一種則是畫室作品(studio work),繪畫手法有水彩及油彩,用色大多鮮明亮麗。當中一張名為「油麻地的光與影」的作品值得一提。楊復始憶起創作當天,下午猛烈的陽光投射在油麻地一棟棟的舊式高層唐樓的外牆上,形成強烈的光影對比,造就出一種異樣的美麗。
「只有舊式建築物才能造就如此獨特的香港城市景觀 。我完成作品後,有很多人對此表示驚嘆,想不到香港也有如此美景,還以為是在繪畫Manhattan的街景呢。我們應反思舊樓是不是一定要盡數拆除呢?不是的,我們應盡力保留它。」
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另外一幅以「公利真料竹庶水」為題的畫作表達了楊復始對香港未來的期望。這間店舖位於卑利街的舊式唐樓地下,已有幾十年歷史,門口石柱張貼著一幅舊式手繪廣告海報,店內只設有風扇,沒有冷氣,充滿老派香港的風格。「這種店舖在香港可算是滄海遺珠,現在一般店舖均是連銷式經營,失去了獨創性。不是『百佳』,就是『大家樂』,實在太沉悶。」楊復始盼望政府能夠容許有更多港人創業,使香港能夠營造出百花齊放的局面。「有一批人能夠自己創業,才能夠激發創意,這樣香港才有更長遠的發展。」
日期:二O一五年六月二日至三十日
開放時間:星期二至星期日 下午一時至晚上七時正
開放接待:六月六日(星期六) 晚上六時至九時正
地點:香港灣仔適安街16號地下 (皇后大道東99號傍)



>>>>>>>Capturing scenes from the city – the old fashioned way 30-12-2014


 Capturing scenes from the city – the old fashioned way from Varsity CUHK on Vimeo.

Interview by Varsity CUHK with Ric Tse, Luís Simões and I

中文大學 Varsity 採訪我同另外兩位藝術家關於怎樣用不同手法捕捉香港嘅事物。


 Sketching in Action from Varsity CUHK on Vimeo.



>>>>>>>Intreview by Localiiz 26-11-2014


We’ve seen the diverse beauty of Hong Kong captured in stunning photographs and numerous time lapse videos, but for one local artist, a sketchbook and box of watercolours are all he needs to bring the charm of our city to life.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Gary Yeung has spent the last four years channelling his lifelong passion for drawing into creating vivid and intricate sketches of the city’s urban landscapes, each one featuring objects and people he finds relevant.
In his recent video ‘Sketching Central’, Yeung captures the atmosphere of some of the inner city’s most cherished hotspots, gradually bringing each scene to life as he adds splashes of colour to his black and white sketches.
From the hustle and bustle of Elgin Street and Des Voeux Road, to the blissful green oasis of Hong Kong Park and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, Yeung depicts life in the city, often capturing iconic landmarks such as the Peak Tram on Kennedy Road and various famous buildings.
Delving even deeper into the identity of his home city, Yeung touches on political milestones, throwing himself in the midst of the "Hongkongese protest against the dissolution of the Hong Kong-China border" outside the Legislative Council buildings on June 27th and the landmark Central Rally on July 1st to create his masterpieces.
“Sketching on site allows me to observe closely the subject matter before me which allows me to understand better,” Yeung told Localiiz. “Different from photography, which only requires a click on camera or a smartphone, sketching normally requires me to spend an hour or two in front of the scene I sketch, lots of observation and thinking are done in the process.”
With his sketchbook and watercolours always by his side, Yeung is ready to capture any scene that strikes him at any time, which is probably just as well given the ever-changing nature of the city that he fears may eventually lose its cultural heritage.
“I find sketching the city on site a very meaningful thing to do as our city is changing so rapidly,” he observed. “Old districts are being redeveloped and many precious things such as old architecture, old communities, and shops are disappearing at alarming speed and being replaced by large malls and chain stores. I feel the need to record all these before it's too late and hopefully, more and more locals will voice their opposition to the current way of development."
And it’s not just the city that is evolving. When Yeung is not out and about sketching the city, or teaching visual art to primary school students, he continues to hone his skills by taking oil painting lessons from Russian painter Anastassia Katafygiotis, who owns a studio in picturesque Sai Kung, where Yeung has lived for the past 17 years, away from the bustle of urban Hong Kong.
It seems Yeung’s skills are limitless. His natural artistic flair not only earned him a diploma in Fine Arts with distinction at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, it also led him to become an illustrator for children’s books, university publications, magazine covers, and murals. He was also invited to participate in the SINO Citywalk, Take a Break with Art Mural and Art Jam, and the Central Oasis Mural Project organised by the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority.


>>>>>>>星島地區報 21-11-2014




























>>>>>>>臺灣 dpi 設計流行創意雜誌 8月號/2014 第184期



【專題企劃∕美麗的香港】
鄧凝姿|濃烈鄉愁包裹
Stella So|能不能,別說再見
Stella So以粉末都市形容香港,比喻美好的事物終成灰燼消散。但在她的作品中,仍充滿對香港文化的懷念與期望,也畫出了香港人心底最不捨的感情。
何倩彤|如果還有更好的可能
香港就是,小而快速。空間小,以至空氣流動的幅度也小,人從地平線望出去的距離小,最後變成一種對廣闊和偉大事物的無力感。但人們卻必須移動得非常迅速,在速度裡忘記所有事情。所以對何倩彤而言,香港是橫衝直撞,令人暈頭轉向的。
Gary Yeung|香江風情畫
愛香港的城市速寫家Gary Yeung,以畫筆捕捉香港的一顰一笑,希望透過繪畫,可以勾起更多香港人對在地事物的關心,愛護香港的每一件小事。
石家豪|時代迴聲
是誰的歌聲,落在歷史的長廊上?不見來人,跫音已遠,徒留迴聲,湮沒在時代巨河中。
Angryangry Illustration|為了下一代而抗爭
Andy說,他寧願當一個具有爭議性的人,創作極富爭議性的文字圖像,即使有可能犯錯,但他要的就是因為這種可能性,所產生出的討論空間,唯有討論才能促使社會進步。
何達鴻|留住心中的香港
創作靈感大多來自親身經歷,他習慣先用文字記錄下來,開始作畫前再將平時的文字記錄拿出來讀,此外,電影也提供給他許多創作的靈感。
【dpi特別報導】
米力∣米力喜歡的香港
因為工作關係,經常往來中港台三地的米力,有了比一般遊客更多的機會去深入瞭解香港這座城市。究竟,在喜歡慢活的米力眼中,習慣繁忙的香港又是怎樣的風景呢?

>>>>>>>HK Magazine : Gary Yeung of Urban Sketchers
By Priscilla Yu  August 7, 2014 

Hong Kong seems to reinvent itself constantly, but art collective Urban Sketchers Hong Kong is trying to preserve its heritage by sketching the city. Co-founder Gary Yeung tells Priscilla Yu about capturing the SAR in his drawings.
HK Magazine: How did you get into urban sketching?
Gary Yeung: I started drawing in 2006 but became more engaged in urban sketching in 2008. I realized the city is changing too fast, and I want to use my talents to record its facets and evoke some resonance. Drawing for me is not about sketching the prettiest thing, but rather it is a tool to reveal the truth in society. I try to post every sketch I do on my blog, alongside a description. I think it is more like “sketching with poetry.”
HK: How do people react when you’re sketching?
GY: I am so happy when people appreciate my art. While I was sketching a wall tree on Kennedy Road, people offered me free drinks, and another time, someone gave me cupcakes. But unpleasant things have happened too. While I was drawing in Nan Lian Garden, security asked me to leave, saying that I’d mess up the garden.
HK: What changes have you noticed over the years?
GY: Things are always changing, but a good example is Kwun Tong’s Yue Man Square. It used to be part of Kwun Tong city center, with lots of tong laus, residential buildings and all sorts of crowds. But now all the blocks and streets are empty, and the shops are closed for the redevelopment project. I feel so sorry for all the residents who were forced to move away. Redevelopment in Hong Kong is often the same routine—turning a place into a giant air-conditioned mall with chain stores and residential buildings on top; I doubt this is the ideal way to redevelop a city.
HK: How do your sketches reflect Hong Kong politics?
GY: I sketched both the Northeast New Territories Development protest and the July 1 rally, and posted the images. Later, a board member from a sketching group in the US contacted me and wanted to repost my drawing. It surprised me, because I don’t think my sketches are political, but they do show these parts of our lives. Hong Kong people should see themselves as a unit, and care about their environment and government policies. Of course, I do hope there will be universal suffrage—with public nomination for both the CE and LegCo.
HK: Why not just take photos?
GY: Well for one, I’m not an expert in photography! When taking photos, most of time you will not remember the details—but drawing is different. You have to sit for hours and observe every little thing around you. Drawing also requires your own interpretation; once I was sitting with two friends, sketching the same building. The results were completely different. That’s the fun of urban sketching.
HK: If you could only sketch one thing, what would it be?
GY: I’d say either Lion Rock, because it is a symbol of the Hong Kong spirit and has been witnessing changes for years, or the colonial coat of arms. If we remove the colonial facet of it, the coat of arms is a great symbol of Hong Kong—the fishing boat and fortress, together with the dragon and lion. Notice the upper lion holding a pearl? It is like Hong Kong is a precious land, protected by the lion.
http://hk-magazine.com/city-living/article/gary-yeung



>>>>>>>本土畫家愛舊香港 以畫作訴說大城小事 






Video Interview:  Property Station 地產站【人物專題】本土畫家愛舊香港 以畫作訴說大城小事 06/12/2013



>>>>>>>The Changing Cityscape of Kowloon City  
               重建巨輪又啟動 畫筆留著九龍城   蘋果動新聞



Apple Daily reported our sketch event and the situation Kowloon City is facing!
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20130722/51571503


當日同幾位大專生寫生時一同跟蘋果動新聞拍了專訪!幾位記者好用心!
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realtime/news/20130722/51571503

>>>>>>>中環街市 「城中綠洲」信報 5 March 2010


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