5 Local Artists To Watch In Hong Kong

Words by Isabel Wong

August 24, 2017

Find out what the Hong Kong art scene has to offer

With the Asia Contemporary Art Show, Fall edition coming to town this September 21-24, Hong Kong is set to embrace yet another wave of art frenzy. And while the global art audience will be looking at contemporary artworks from around the region, there's plenty to explore in Hong Kong's local art scene.

Here are five local Hong Kong artists you should have on your watch list:

Above Photo: Courtesy of Samson Young

Samson Young

As one of the Generation T listers 2017, Samson Young is a highly regarded composer and media artist who's just represented Hong Kong at this year's Venice Biennale.

Trained as a musician at Princeton, Young's blending of sounds with visual art and live performance has enjoyed much international success and granted him multiple awards: the Bloomberg Emerging Artist Award, Art Basel-BMW Art Journey Award and more.

Young's work will be featured in Asia's first LGBTQ art show Spectrosynthesis at MOCA Taipei this September.

Find out more at themusicisfalse.com.

Chan Kwan-Lok

Recently signed by Grotto Fine Art, Chan Kwan-Lok's works are popular among private collectors. Chan is a water sports enthusiast and he translates his love for swimming and diving to his own works by drawing eccentric waves and joyful swimmers.

"We signed Chan Kwan-Lok because he has demonstrated, despite his young age, the talent, ethics and professionalism required to be a successful artist," said Henry Au-Yeung, director of Grotto Fine Art.

Find out more about Chan at grottofineart.com.

Above 'Arm Wrestling' (2017) by Chan Kwan Lok (Photo: Courtesy of Grotto Fine Art)

Above Photo: Courtesy of Enoch Cheng

Enoch Cheng

Enoch Cheng is an artist, performer and director. His practice involves moving images, installation, theatre and performance. Cheng was awarded several grants including the Emerging Artist Grant by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and selected as a finalist at the IFVA Hong Kong 2012. As a well-respected artist in the international art scene, Cheng has had his works shown in Brazil, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, the United Kingdom and more.

Cheng is the curator of The Garden, a group exhibition that will take place at Chi Art Space in Clear Water Bay from September 2 to October 13, 2017.

Frank Tang

Having been featured at the Asia Contemporary Art Show previously, emerging artist Frank Tang's works look into the performative elements in Chinese paintings. During Tang's university years, his works were already well-recognised and attracted patrons like William Lim, one of Hong Kong's most prominent art collectors.

Despite his young age, Tang has accomplished a lot by winning the Yau San Cheong Chinese Painting Award of AVA and an AVA Award at SOLOS Graduation show in 2010. He has also worked with Ying Kwok, the curator for the Hong Kong Pavillion at this year's Venice Biennale, on his solo exhibition 'From 4am to 10pm'.

To find out more about his works, visit tangkaiyiu.com.

Above Photo: Courtesy of Frank Tang

Above '...Until I am found' (2017) by Chloe Cheuk (Photo: Courtesy of Chloe Cheuk)

Chloe Cheuk

Chloe Cheuk is the star of Asia Society's Hong Kong-themed exhibition earlier this year. Having impressed critics with her crystal-ball inspired installation that looked out over the skyline, Cheuk is a multimedia artist who works simultaneously in installation, interactive media, photography and video.

She's won the Special Mention Award at the 19th IFVA Hong Kong 2014 and her works often resonate with the contemporary globalised world on personal, social and political levels. Her works are currently being featured in Medialogue at Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre until 30 October and will be shown in The Others Art Fair from November 2 to 5 in Italy.

Find out more at chloecheuk.com.