Dark side of lust in Hong Kong explored in Wong Ping’s animations - for adults only

Do not be fooled by the bright colours and comically illustrated people, local filmmaker Wong Ping’s animated short films are anything but child-friendly. With themes including teenage lust, sexual oppression and desire; it is no surprise that his animations are widely deemed “not safe for work”.

His latest film Jungle of Desire incorporates his signature aesthetic and aims to comment on oppression in the context of Hong Kong’s turbulent political scene.

“The films are like a language that I use to talk about different topics like politics, love and life,” says Wong. “In a high-pressure place like Hong Kong, I am a suppressed person and this is mediation for me. I just try to be honest and speak out about my evil shame and other people’s.”

The eight-minute short will be shown at Things That Can Happen, an artist-run experimental art space in Sham Shui Po. The film depicts a world without moral obligations where lust and passion take charge. Wong says he was inspired by his belief that behind closed doors people are engaging in all sorts of explicit acts or having “evil thoughts.”

“The energy of desire and lust is everywhere,” he says.