Dark side of lust in Hong Kong explored in Wong Ping’s animations - for adults only
'Hong Kong's playful pervert' has debut show in Sham Shui Po
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.
Wong chose the title because he felt it accurately captured the city’s “wild” essence and just happens to be the name of an old Canto-pop song.
Although his films have been criticised for being too graphic, Wong says he prides himself on the honest nature of his work.
“I love to read negative comments,” says Wong. “When I uploaded them to Tudou (China’s version of YouTube), people’s reactions were big. They would even judge me, saying I am perverted or impotent.”
Wong began his filmmaking career five years ago when he uploaded his first animated short and fell in love with the medium.
“I can control everything without communicating or working with others from the script to characters to voiceovers,” says Wong. “I don’t even have to leave my room while creating another world in my work.”
Despite having over 1,000 likes on his Vimeo page and winning Perspective’s 40 under 40 award for graphic design/new media, this exhibition will be Wong’s official debut show.
Instead of just showing animations, Wong will also be taking on a new challenge and designing various installations to compliment his film,
“I have never done anything out of a video screen, so this is out of my comfort zone,” he says. “I’m trying to bring the world inside my animation to life.”
The installations consist of a modified fortune cat, various sexual objects as well as a grumpy heart, which is an iconic image in Wong’s films.
“The grumpy heart is a symbol of my philosophy,” says Wong. “It represents my continual search for the meaning of love in my work.”
Wong says he wants the exhibition to exude a sense of playfulness.
“I just wanted to have fun,” he says. “I don’t really care what type of response I get, but I hope everyone has fun as well.”
Things That Can Happen, 1/F, 98 Apliu Street, Sham Shui Po, Thur-Sun, 1pm-8pm. September 5 until November 15. Inquiries: 2406 9800
