Hong Kong artist Miki Ho captures essence of Sham Shui Po, promotes inclusivity at ‘Everybody Studio’ exhibition
- Free exhibit at the Bridge+ Living Art Space promotes theme of community and highlights work from SEN students
- Ho honours the district’s unique culture, such as its Chinese god figurines and many street stalls, through installations and sketches
Visual artist Miki Ho Yin-yi at her exhibition “Everybody Studio” at The Bridge+ Living Art Space in Sham Shui Po. Photo: Jonathan WongLocal artist Miki Ho Yin-yi has captured the vibes of Sham Shui Po through a series of sketches and installations at her latest exhibition.
“Everybody Studio,” organised by HASS Lab in partnership with Vivere Sky Social Enterprise, can be seen at the Bridge+ Living Art Space on Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po. The free exhibition is divided into three sections: “People”, “Community”, and “SEN”.
“I want to bring out the message of inclusivity ... [that] everyone coexists in the same area,” said Ho, the 28-year-old visual artist.
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The first section, “People”, features a wall-sized illustration of a playground, where Ho depicts crowds of people closely clustered together, yet each working on their own thing.
“[The] playground is a place that inspires you to imagine and think,” Ho said, noting that fewer people visit playgrounds now than in the past. “I wanted to record these disappearing elements to educate the next generation”.
In honour of Sham Shui Po, Ho’s primary source of inspiration for the exhibition, the “Community” section features a few series showcasing the area’s distinct characteristics, such as its depictions of Chinese deities.
“[While walking in] Sham Shui Po, I saw many Chinese god figurines and posters. I feel like those figurines are part of the neighbourhood,” she said. She also included a “Small World of Street Stall” series highlighting the area’s well-known street stall culture.
The last part of the exhibition explores the theme of “SEN”. Ho has worked extensively with SEN students, tutoring them through art programmes and holding workshops where she leads students on a tour of Sham Shui Po and invites them to create art based on the experience. The SEN section includes an illustrated map she made during one of these programmes and newly-created pieces from students, made specially for the exhibit.
The aim of this section is for the public to learn more about SEN students, Ho said. “SEN students also inspired my recent art pieces, as their [creative] style is more brave and direct, which is what I lack as I’m comparatively conservative.”
Cherry Chan, co-founder of HASS Lab, said that although teachers may think SEN students do not follow the rules, they have a unique perspective on the arts that helps them stand out from their peers.
“From a contemporary art perspective, we find their energy outstanding,” said Chan. “These students have very good energy, creativity, and observation.”
Ho typically uses plain and simple lines in her artwork to convey her ideas: one exhibition visitor, 16-year-old student Jesse Lam, called Ho’s work “astonishing” for the way it depicts the emotions and features of Hong Kong using such simple illustrations.
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Meanwhile, 18-year-old Martin Zhang enjoyed seeing depictions of his neighbourhood, saying, “I found the Chinese figurine [illustrations] impressive. I live in Sham Shui Po, so it stirred up some feelings when I saw the artwork.”
According to Chan, making the exhibition free makes it more accessible and could help people feel less self-conscious about attending.
“Many people believe [art exhibitions] are kind of intimidating, so they don’t want to visit,” she said. “But here on Apliu Street, everyone passing by can have a look.”
It also aligns with Ho’s goals of inclusiveness and community and brings people closer to art.
“If visitors feel great after looking at artwork or finding new ideas, it’s more than satisfying to me,” Ho said.
“Everybody Studio” runs until August 30 at the Bridge+ Living Art Space at 82-84 Apliu Street in Sham Shui Po. The exhibition is open every day from 10am - 6pm and is free and open to the public.