After taking his daughter to school, this Hong Kong dad stops to sketch Sai Ying Pun
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Every day, Billy Wong Yin-chun travels from Kowloon to Sai Ying Pun to bring his nine-year-old daughter to school. Afterwards, he stops to sketch.
'Being a full-time dad made me feel a bit lost, so I started looking for something creative to do. I thought, why not take a sketchbook and draw Sai Ying Pun?' the 47-year-old parent recalled.
With pencil, ink pen and watercolour, his artwork depicts old shops like Cheryl's Bakery, where his daughter enjoys jelly cups. Other drawings show the stone walls and ancient trees of Bonham Road, the old mental hospital on High Street, as well as flower shops and Thai grocery stores hidden in narrow alleys.
So far, his drawings have filled three sketchbooks.
Wong's first exhibition opened last month at Knock Knock, a bookstore in Sai Ying Pun, and will be on display until March 24.
'This is actually something I wanted to do when I was a child. I never imagined that at this age, in my forties, I'd suddenly be able to fulfil this dream,' said Wong, who previously worked as a graphic designer.
Hong Kong art celebrates Tai Kok Tsui and its residents
Look around you
Another full-time father, Kenneth Tsang, is the curator of Wong's exhibition. Tsang, 41, used to own a local bookstore called Hiding Place. The two connected outside their daughters' school and talked about Wong's art.
'His artwork feels like a record of a space, a moment in time,' Tsang said. 'What stands out ... is how he blends greenery with historic buildings. His paintings capture the essence of this place.'
After seeing Wong's paintings for the first time, Tsang felt inspired to be a curator again.
'I thought: 'This shouldn't just be for me. Hong Kong people need to see this too,'' he said.
Both Wong and Tsang hope that these artworks encourage people to appreciate their own communities.
'At the heart of it, I just want to remind people to cherish their surroundings and their neighbourhood,' Tsang said.
The view of a local father
Wong has been drawing since he was a child. His first painting of Hong Kong was a gift for his brother, who moved away from the city. It showed a wide view from Mount Davis looking over Victoria Harbour.
He said: 'My first sketches were for my younger brother and cousin after they emigrated. I wanted to send them something to remind them of home.'
Before starting his current project, Wong was feeling lost after giving up his job to be a full-time father.
Now, he has connected with other stay-at-home dads and found a new purpose that works with his schedule for taking care of his daughter.
Ethnic minority seniors in Hong Kong find their voice through art
His art has also helped him meet local residents who have told him about their memories of Sai Ying Pun.
'One elderly saw my painting of the hospital where he was born; he was deeply touched. He even asked to take a photo of it,' he said.
'I realised that my paintings, which are personal memories, could also become someone else's.'
Wong's favourite drawing shows the Hong Kong Resource Centre for Heritage.
'It's a beautiful spot, but because it's tucked away and surrounded by trees, not many people notice it. Depending on the time of day and season, the scene changes,' he said. 'It's one of those hidden gems.'
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