Full-time dad’s daily commute inspired him to sketch Sai Ying Pun’s storied streets

What began as Billy Wong Yin-chun’s daily commute with his nine-year-old daughter became an artistic journey when the 47-year-old full-time dad started sketching parts of the neighbourhood.

“Being a full-time dad made me feel a bit lost, so I started looking for something creative to do. I thought: why not take a sketchbook and draw Sai Ying Pun?” he recalled.

Beginning a few years ago when his daughter started primary school, Wong has been pausing almost every day to craft vivid portraits of this old Hong Kong neighbourhood with pencil, ink pen and watercolour.

His artwork, a tapestry of memories and history, features old shops like Cheryl’s Bakery, where his daughter enjoys jelly cups. Others depict Bonham Road’s stone walls and ancient trees, the old mental hospital on High Street, as well as flower shops and Thai grocery stores tucked away in narrow alleys.

So far, his drawings have filled three sketchbooks.

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Wong’s first exhibition opened last month at Knock Knock, a bookstore in Sai Ying Pun, and will be on display until March 24.

“This is actually something I wanted to do when I was a child. I never imagined that at this age, in my forties, I’d suddenly be able to fulfil this dream,” said Wong, who previously worked as a graphic designer.

Another full-time father, Kenneth Tsang, became the curator for Wong’s first exhibition after they connected over music outside their daughters’ school and chatted about Wong’s sketches.

After seeing Wong’s paintings for the first time, 41-year-old Tsang – who used to run a local bookstore, Hiding Place – felt inspired.

“Even if you pass by this place [Sai Ying Pun], you never really see the full picture. In our daily lives, we’re focused on what we need to do. But his artwork feels like a record of a space, a moment in time,” he said.

“I thought: ‘This shouldn’t just be for me. Hong Kong people need to see this too.’”

Wong has been drawing since childhood, but his first painting of Hong Kong was a gift for his brother – an expansive view from Mount Davis overlooking Victoria Harbour.

He said: “My first sketches were for my younger brother and cousin after they emigrated. I wanted to send them something to remind them of home.”

Through his current project, Wong has connected with local residents who have told him about their memories of Sai Ying Pun.

“One elderly saw my painting of the hospital where he was born; he was deeply touched. He even asked to take a photo of it,” he said.

“I realised that my paintings, which are personal memories, could also become someone else’s.”

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Of all his works, Wong’s favourite features the Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage.

“It’s a beautiful spot, but because it’s tucked away and surrounded by trees, not many people notice it. Depending on the time of day and season, the scene changes. It’s one of those hidden gems,” he said.

Tsang said he appreciated how Wong showcased Sai Ying Pun as a neighbourhood of contrasts.

“What stands out in Billy’s work is how he blends greenery with historic buildings. His paintings capture the essence of this place in such an interesting way,” Tsang said.

Painting has also been a way for Wong to navigate a personal struggle – feeling lost after giving up his job to be a full-time father.

“If you’re a man who used to work and suddenly you have no income, it affects your sense of identity,” he explained. “It’s just you, your daughter and your wife, and you start to feel like something is missing.”

Wong noted the additional pressure in traditional Chinese society for fathers to be breadwinners.

But he has discovered he is not alone.

“Our class at school is pretty unique. We have four full-time dads ... We talk about the struggles of being a stay-at-home dad,” he said. “There are plenty of parenting courses out there, but they mostly focus on mums.”

Now that he has this Sai Ying Pun project, he has a new purpose and focus that also works well with his schedule for taking care of his daughter.

Both Wong and Tsang hope these artworks encourage people to appreciate their own communities.

“At the heart of it, I just want to remind people to cherish their surroundings and their neighbourhood,” Tsang said.

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