Let’s rewind to the year 2000, when Jay Chou released “Jay,” his debut album that shook the entire Chinese music scene. The young, inexperienced boy was destined to become a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Now, with 15 personal albums under his belt, Chou has honed his craft to create a distinct musical style, showcasing his artistic vision. It’s easy to catch a glimpse of Chou’s world through his works, a world brimming with creativity and imagination. He candidly shares, “Art is deeply interwoven into life. I love observing different things around me as it inspires me to create. I was really into Western cowboy films for a while, which led to the song ‘Cowboy On The Run’. Being imaginative in music means exploring unexpected topics, like the martial arts-themed ‘Nunchucks,’ the basketball-inspired ‘Basketball Match’, or the motivational ‘Rice Field.’ In the future, inviting legendary figures like Federer or Nadal to shoot a music video would be amazing!”

Every art form possesses its own means of expression. Music, as one of the eight major arts, has long been regarded as a creative medium that fosters communication between people through sound. In recent years, Chou, who has cultivated a passion for art collection, has woven his love for art into his work. For example, in the 2016 song “Bedtime Stories”, he references the masterpieces of Salvador Dalí, while his 2022 track “Greatest Works Of Art” alludes to renowned artists such as Belgian surrealist René Magritte, the vibrant Henri Matisse, post-impressionist Vincent van Gogh, Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch, and the Chinese artist Zhang Daqian, all vividly illustrated through the lyrics and music video. He actively champions the importance of art through his creative endeavours.

“My mother [Yeh Hui-mei] was an art teacher, and she shared countless stories about artists with me during my childhood, allowing me to grow up in a rich artistic environment. Only when I began directing music videos could I truly express my thoughts on art. Everyone encounters art in their lives; you might just not recognise it as such. Brewing a cup of coffee and creating latte art is a form of art, and so is capturing a photograph. Recently, I’ve been contemplating whether a person’s sense of aesthetics is innate or cultivated over time. The conclusion I’ve reached is that art is fundamentally subjective, and personal emotions profoundly influence the beauty of a piece.”

For his Vogue Man Hong Kong cover shoot, Jay Chou showcased two of his most treasured paintings: one from a 1973 Picasso retrospective at the Palais des Papes in Avignon, and the other is Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild (774-4), created in 1992, which is extremely rare. Chou candidly shared that his perspective on art collection has evolved with age. “When I first started collecting art, I would buy pieces simply because I found them visually appealing, almost like decorative items. However, through conversations with friends in the art world, I realised that it’s a process of self-exploration. I began to understand that I collect art not for investment purposes but because a deeper understanding of the artist compels me to own that work. This thought even inspired the song ‘Greatest Works Of Art’.’”

During the shoot, Chou took the two paintings very seriously, carefully examining each photo as it was taken. He said, “I often share my collection on Instagram, but this time, I wanted to approach these pieces with the utmost seriousness. Particularly with the Picasso painting, which originally belonged to his second wife and only appeared at the artist’s 1973 retrospective. It has never been shown at an auction, so it’s like obtaining a piece from his family. Because of this, it holds great significance for me, which is why I was so meticulous in selecting the photos.”