bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Janice Leung

In his  enamel paintings of movie  frames,  Chow Chun-fai   transfers onto canvas memorable scenes  from  celluloid classics such as Infernal Affairs and Love in a Fallen City.  His recreations are so  faithful that they include  the films' English and Chinese subtitles. But the images are not  just slavish imitations. The 28-year-old says   his movie paintings series probes   sociopolitical issues such as identity, the definition and role of art and  public space in  Hong Kong. To delve into  that subtext  is not as simple  as it looks.
'It's actually more difficult, yet more interesting, not to alter the image and the subtitles,' he says, adding that it would be much easier to create an impression by manipulatively matching images  to text out of context.
'We can easily imagine the impact of juxtaposing  an image of [Chief Executive] Donald Tsang [Yam-kuen] giving a speech  next  to a quote taken from [TV drama] Heart of Greed, can't we?
'I'm not making changes to the originals, so I'm not rewriting history. I just uncover what's there.'
Chow thinks art should function as a reflection of society. 'Art records the culture of a certain place at a certain time - not only the life of  the artist.'
It's this conceptual approach that has won Chow much critical acclaim, making him one of the most sought after Hong Kong artists working today. The mild mannered fine arts graduate has just won this year's Sovereign Asian Art Prize and the Hong Kong Arts Centre 30th Anniversary Award Grand Prize for his works Once a Thief, 'Any Self-respecting Thief would be Proud to Steal this Painting' and Shaolin Soccer, 'If We Don't Have Any Dream in Life' respectively.
He will be among  18 artists from greater China to appear in Hanart TZ Gallery's  group exhibition Hong Kong, Hong Kong, which opens next Tuesday.  On display will be his painting of a Wan Chai street scene from the 1990 movie Front Page, which shows an old pawn shop that  has long since disappeared.
The painter remains  unmoved by his success. 'Yes, this movie paintings series is selling well, but I've also made works not meant to be sold,' says Chow, who has spent the past three years creating large-scale photo collages that combine  self-portraits, Chinese folk tales and scenes  from canonical western paintings such as Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper and Michelangelo's Creation of Adam. The  pieces set out to  reinterpret what we deem  classics.
His works from both series have now been shown in museums   and galleries worldwide. Earlier this year, Chow was the youngest among the seven artists contributing works to Made in Hong Kong, a group show held at the Hong Kong Museum of Art that  explored the city's cultural identity.
Chow attributes the Hong Kong sensibility of his works to his  working-class background. 'My dad was a taxi driver,' he says. 'I got to know the world of taxi drivers  very well, which in a way has influenced my art.'
In 2001, when Chow was  studying for his bachelor's degree in fine arts at the Chinese University, he struggled to  pay off the  finance for   two taxis  after his father suffered a stroke. Taxis became part of the artist's life and  featured in many of his early paintings, forming  his first series  branded 'local'.
'I didn't mean to put in local elements,' he says.  'I didn't think those red taxis were telling local stories at all ... I just wanted to  experiment  with media forms, so I painted what I had photographed,' Chow  says. 'Taxis were in my paintings simply because they were in my everyday snapshots.'
Born and bred in Hong Kong, Chow is  careful about how to portray his home city. Put off by art  marked by an exotic sense of Chineseness, he  has always  avoided any stereotypical vocabulary.
'But later I found it challenging not to fall into the trap of cliche,  and not to represent Hong Kong through images of sailing boats and  Victoria Harbour.'
To gain new perspectives and a more detached observation of his home city, Chow  rented a studio   in Beijing with fellow local artist  Lam Tung-pang  last year, while seeking chances to travel abroad at the same time (he  came back from a two-month residency in Italy three weeks ago). The  artist says he is spending about one-third of his time in Hong Kong.
That flexible - if not exactly nomadic - way of life has always appealed to  Chow.
'I've been longing to launch a creative career,' he says. 'But I just had a basic idea about what kind of lifestyle I wanted. The nine-to-five routine is not for me.'
Chow, who wanted to work in illustration or the theatre as a teenager, graduated from the Chinese University in 2003  and completed a master's degree in fine arts in 2006.   It was   at university  that his aspiration of becoming a visual artist grew concrete.
'Before that, I wondered if studying fine arts would make me nihilistic and idealistic, but it was the opposite. The programme  showed me what the possibilities were if I wanted to become an artist.'
Now represented by Hanart TZ Gallery, Chow is successful both critically and commercially -  one of his paintings  went under the hammer for HK$280,000 at a charity auction last year. But  he's far from commercially minded.
'I don't sell every work of mine.  I even want to keep some of them out of  sight,' he  says with a smile. 'What I've wanted is simple - to sustain myself and my family through continual creation.'
That   humble approach understates  his  ambition  to   be  a full-time artist in his hometown.
'I hope art as a professional practice will be thoroughly realised in Hong Kong one day.'
Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Dec 2-31, Hanart TZ Gallery, 202 Henley Building, 5 Queen's Rd Central.  Mon-Fri, 10am to 6.30pm; Sat, 10am to 6pm. Inquiries: 2526 9019



Frieze frame