Wong Tin-yan
Local sculptor Wong Tin-yan uses discarded industrial wood as his medium of choice to show that something cool can be made from junk. He’s had exhibitions all over town, including the Detour 2011 art and design festival back in December, the Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition. He has also collaborated with Muji, Louis Vuitton and Izzue to create in-store displays of his works. At a recent talk at State-of-the-Arts Gallery, he talks to Grace Brown about his passion for upcycling and why repurposed junk furniture is going to be the next big thing.
HK Magazine: When did you first start making sculptures?
Wong Tin-yan: I created my first sculpture for my Bachelor of Fine Art graduation show at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, back in 2000. Just like all students, I started to look at myself a bit more seriously before the grad show, and found that I enjoy sculpting more than any other medium, because it’s so active.
WT: It was only by chance. When I was planning for my graduation project, I saw a lot of wooden pallets around the campus as there was ongoing construction work around the university at that time. The unique texture of the pallets attracted me, and of course, they were free. My studio is in an industrial building, so I simply collect the pallets from around the area. It’s easy to be resourceful with junk. It’s everywhere and it doesn’t cost a penny.
HK: Your work is quite cartoonish. Where does that come from?
WT: At the beginning, I didn’t know what I should create, but suddenly an image of a cartoon animal came to mind... It occurred to me that it is hard to define absolutely any object’s usefulness or uselessness. Both cartoons and junk wood can be said to demonstrate this difficulty. While neither is utilitarian, necessary or essential, they are useful in an unconventional sense in that they provide entertainment, and, in the case of junk wood, it is a resource for recycling.
HK: How do you find the right balance between commercial projects and artistic creation?
WT: The best way to balance is divided into two mindsets. Artistic creation can be more personal and free. For commercial projects, I must think about the needs of the other party much more, so discussion is very important. I also have quite clear boundaries and won’t just accept a commercial project if the cooperation really seems unsuitable for my style. Having that helps me to keep a balance between making money and maintaining my artistic integrity. For me, that’s really important. At the end of the day, you can’t buy back your image.
HK: Do you feel that Hong Kong could use more of its “junk” for artwork?
WT: When it comes to artwork, it’s always best to start from an idea or concept, not the materials. The concept should inform what you build with, so I’m reluctant to suggest using any materials just for the sake of recycling. However, I think that Hong Kong can find more creative, clever ways to use its junk. Art is certainly one of them.
To lean more about Wong’s work, visit www.wongtinyan.com.