I just love lurking at night, especially in Tokyo. Whether it be alone or with a couple of friends, it feels good to just be “off the hook” – tagging around the city, grabbing midnight snacks, and all sorts of stupid things. I just feel better at night when everything is off, but so on at the same time. My most memorable observations often occur at night, which I then capture through drawings to create a loose travel diary that blends facts and my imagination. For example, some drawings feature cockroaches, simply reflecting their prevalence on the streets. Similarly, one drawing is of a single red high heel, which I imagine was left behind by a drunk woman.

Aside from travelling, do you have a personal connection to Tokyo?

I have a soft spot for Tokyo. Probably because I grew up with Japanese Anime and Music, like JPop and JRock, it’s always been my favourite city. Perhaps for younger audiences today, the favoured city is Seoul, with lots of “K” popular entertainment, such as K-Pop and K-Dramas. No matter where, it’s always a magical experience to be in the cultural origin of your favourite media. It feels like you’re healing your inner child when you let yourself geek out over things like a Godzilla hotel, for example. I often go to this joint called Mandarake (まんだらけ) in Tokyo that sells secondhand toys, collectables, manga, CDs – basically everything, and it’s like heaven to me.

Could you tell us about the mural you recently created for the “Chanel Summer Tour” earlier this month?

I was approached to create something with Chanel’s essence, so I decided to draw a lion in my style. Loose and breathable – I aimed to give the mural an effortless, summery vibe to match the occasion, especially as it was a super hot day. 

Do you think you will move into fashion?

I’ve worked with JOYCE, and now Chanel for the first time. I love nice clothes, but will I move into fashion? Maybe. Never say never.

As a creative working in Hong Kong, how would you describe the city’s cultural landscape and its impact on your artistic practice?

I still love going out to paint, but my desire to go out comes in waves. Similarly, I think being a creative in Hong Kong comes with its ups and downs. From my point of view, the city will probably never wake up from being an “import-export” place. On the one hand, it’s a good thing as we get a lot of foreign items, and are always hip to what’s cool around the world. But on the other, it means that it’s very easy to miss out on what’s going on locally. 

It’s always going to be, what’s next and from where else?, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. It’s not a competition between local and foreign media, more so it’s just the mentality of the city – it’s just how the city rolls.

How do you view Hong Kong’s current cultural standing on the global stage, and how does that impact your approach as an artist working in the city?

As a Hong Kong-based artist, I recognise that the cultural spotlight tends to shift between different global creative hubs over time. It’s like there’s a spotlight that moves around, as tastes and trends evolve, highlighting different centres of creativity and innovation that come to represent the zeitgeist. Thirty years ago, it was shining on Tokyo, now it’s Seoul. The spotlight is not on Hong Kong at the moment, and while I wouldn’t say that we have passed our prime, we’re definitely on mute, or really low volume.

I say this because when you ask a foreigner what Hong Kong’s best cultural export is, they always answer with Wong Kar-Wai. Now, I am not complaining – I love Wong Kar-Wai and I think he is God. But his films are from 30 years ago. It makes you question, hasn’t there been anything new? Has there really been a lack of new, prominent cultural contributions from Hong Kong? However, I don’t view this as a sign that the city has passed its prime. I’m not saying this to be pessimistic, as everything is a cycle. Maybe the spotlight will return in a couple of years, and maybe it won’t. What I do know is that nothing stays the same. In the face of this inevitable change, I am simply focused on being true to myself – I’m just doing me.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.