Meet the Campaign Artist: Rick Lo

How does it feel to have your work selected for Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong’s 10th Anniversary?

I couldn’t believe it when I received the news – it is definitely an honour to have my piece as a highlight for Affordable Art Fair 2023. I’ve always struggled on the title of being ‘an artist’ because I always claim myself as a designer. So it is a big step for me to become an artist in my concept. 

What is the inspiration behind ‘Good Old Kai Tak’?

The Kai Tak Airport is such an important part of Hong Kong History. I remember visiting the airport when I was a child holding my mum’s hand. It seems like an old movie to me, with the yellowish lobby covered by yellow and black signs, and the lighting in the departures hall as well.

Besides, I like to see the view outside the window of the plane. Once we made a turn on top of Hong Kong Island, I could see the shimmering lights under the night sky: a tiny Hong Kong. Our plane flew over Kowloon near the iconic red and white grid on the Checkerboard Hill. I was excited that our plane almost landed on the roofs of the buildings.

Upon development (Kai Tak International Airport was demolished in 1998), some of our childhood memories are lost. It does belong to part of the generation of Hong Kong people.

This is a piece for those people who have flown away, those who have flown back and those who are about to fly away… I couldn’t catch the plane by hand, but I got the frozen time that the scene was no longer.

Do you feel that being born and raised in Hong Kong has influenced your work? What are some of your main influences when it comes to your creative process?

Yes, I’m so blessed to be born and raised here. The place I grew up in is full of fortune and happy memories, and I had the opportunity to explore the uniqueness and precious culture of Hong Kong.

I believe that, being a Hong Kong artist, we have a mission to record everything we still have before it’s gone…for this lovely place. Then I started to find what is fading out in our city, or even what has already gone from our sights in our daily life.

The neon lights, local Hong Kong style restaurants, the double decker tram, the star ferry, the Kai Tak International Airport, and even the Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Hong Kong is a place that truly inspires me to pick up the starting points to draw.

Can you tell us about your journey to the arts? Have you always wanted to become an artist?

I always loved drawing as a kid. When in high school, I realised I did’t quite like most of the menus in the restaurants, or even the spacing surrounded by some logos. I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what that was. Fortunately, I had the chance to study communication design in Melbourne, and then I became a graphic designer in Hong Kong, focusing on branding and prints.

In 2018, I started to explore the boundaries between art and design, and founded Rickubic to start doing illustrations and on the side, teaching design as a lecturer. I believe that design is the art of setting up a frame, and art is a design that breaks the frame. I didn’t have a concrete plan to become an artist. In my mind, I still love the way to explore the boundaries in between those. I would say whatever is hidden in the artworks is for the audience to interpret.

As an artist, how would you describe a typical day for you?

Being an artist, I don’t put 100% time into doing art. There is a large amount of time on day-to-day business operations, such as taking care of the orders and consignments, arranging for the stocks and printings, monitoring websites and for social media platforms, and communicating with clients for the updates. Sometimes, I need to prepare teaching materials for lessons. Most importantly, buying a coffee.

Just like a start-up, it is a one-man band.

I love to keep my home studio clean and minimal, especially when I started drawing digitally. It helps me to focus in such an environment and for the most important part – brainstorming ideas. I usually draw many hand sketches and layouts before I start drawing in detail. I like to work on several drawings at the same period of time when I feel great. Besides, having a good breakfast is also very important to officially start a day.

What are some of your favourite pastimes? Are you reading anything at the moment?

I love riding my bicycle, where I can see different views along the coastal area. I also love flying, and would take a 10-hour bus from Melbourne to Adelaide just to learn how to fly during semester breaks back in college.

I like reading science fiction, and love works by Andy Weir. Currently, I am reading Artemis and Hail Mary, both by Weir himself. I love visualizing the imaginations and the setup created by the writer.

On a more serious note, and for better understanding of my related field, I’m also reading Design As Art written by Bruno Munari. His perception and the forecast are still very valuable for reference even though it was published in the 60s.

What are your tips for first-time art buyers in Hong Kong?

I personally love buying art prints and small sculptures that have meaning to me and, of course, are affordable. It can be very personal sometimes. I would also think of how the artworks look when I display them in my home. It helps a lot to create an atmosphere, even hanging along the corridor or placing on the desk.

For the first-time buyers, I will say you need to find an artwork that you like, such as the content that relates to you, the colour and the style that can inspire you. At the end of the day, the artwork should go with your home style. Then, you will be able to display nicely to create the vibe you wish to or even start a conversation with your guests.

“This is a piece for those people who have flown away, those who have flown back and those who are about to fly away… I couldn’t catch the plane by hand, but I got the frozen time that the scene was no longer.”

Rick Lo

What would you say are the most rewarding and the most challenging aspects of being an artist today?

I’m doing something I love and that is the most rewarding part! It is an amazing feeling when my audiences come back to me, and let me know that my work resonates with their memories.

The Hong Kong art scene can be challenging because of the lack of exhibition space, especially in Hong Kong, for artists to display their works to the public. There are so many artists out there in Hong Kong, but only a limited amount of space. I hope that we could see a change in that in the future!

How would you describe the Affordable Art Fair?

I was a visitor to the fair before I started to exhibit my works in 2022. I loved the cheerful atmosphere in Affordable Art Fair, as people can purchase artworks immediately and just pack-and-go. I could tell from their happy faces when visitors left the hall with a large package in their arms.

I also love that we could talk to the representatives directly from the galleries about the artworks, and it is also a friendly space to meet other artists exhibiting too. All in all, an enjoyable experience and I can’t wait to exhibit at Affordable Art Fair again in 2023.

Come and find Rick for a chat at Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong, 18-21 May, at HKCEC Wan Chai!