Exhibition | Taste of Summer Fashion at K11 Art Mall

Miss Fruity

It really has been forever since I updated my blog (one year almost to the day!), but I want to share with you guys one of my most exciting recent projects! It's an exhibition called The Taste of Summer Fashion and it's in collaboration with K11, a mall here in Hong Kong that combines shopping and art.

Their team had seen my Hong Kong Street Food art print (above) and wanted something similar for their fashion event for summer. Since K11 prides itself on being the world's first Art Mall (they even have a Yinka Shonibare in the foyer) one of the mall's features are a group of these giant showcases built into each level of the shopping center and that was where I was going to exhibit my work.

Photo courtesy of Object A

We decided on a Street Food x Fashion concept and I got to work sketching all 10 of the characters. I only had about 1 month for the project from conception to the final installation - so it was a bit crazy but I loved the feeling of diving into creating this world of characters.

I've been watching a lot of Ru Paul's Drag Race this year so when coming up with the ideas for each character I would ask myself "If this was the theme for the runway challenge what would I make and wear?" 

Here are all the Misses I created for the exhibition each inspired by a food item commonly eaten here in Hong Kong:

 Miss Peach Bun, Miss Ice Cream, Miss Iced Lemon Tea

 Miss Tofu Flower, Miss Egg Waffle, Miss French Toast

Miss Siu Mai, Miss Egg Tart, Miss Fish Ball

K11 had a really sweet film crew and we created a few videos together, here is the most recent where I talk a little more about my inspirations for Miss French Toast and Miss Ice Cream, we're also doing a giveaway for a Taste of Summer Fashion sticker pack so don't forget to follow the instructions on their Facebook page to enter.

Fashionary Illustration Workshop + Metrobooks Exhibition Photo Diary

Guess what! Thanks to the wonderful folks at Fashionary, you can now go check out one of my illustrations on display at Metrobooks in Times Square. They organized an exhibition for the book store's grand opening at Times Square in Causeway Bay featuring 9 other talented illustrators from around the world.

I thought this would be a really good chance for me to make a whole Fashionary blog post as I also got to lead a really amazing fashion illustration workshop with them this past March. It was in the gorgeous newly renovated Page One bookstore in TST. I was really nervous but I spent a few weeks prepping with the awesome team at Fashionary.

This is always my strategy. I always think about this quote by John C Jay, Wieden+Kennedy’s Executive Creative Director, if I have a new project I'm really nervous about: "Work harder than anyone else and you will always benefit from the effort.". I just make sure I do lots of prepping and practicing and set aside time to do so and then I can confidently walk into that project and really feel excited about doing it. This strategy has always served me really well (ok, minus that one time I tried to design a complete wedding suite on Adobe Illustrator, CTRL + ALT + DELETE! I still don't really know how AI works.).

After a short demo, everyone settled down with their own set of watercolours and Fashionary template paper and I lead us with step by step directions on how to create the illustrations, first using pencil to sketch, Copic markers for the skin and then finally watecolour for the clothing.  

We then practiced the face on a separate piece of paper before committing to drawing it on our final illustration, it takes the pressure off and you know what they say, practice makes perfect progress.

Vikki Yau was the other illustrator from the day, she lead the Copic Marker workshop in the afternoon and she's also the editor of Fashionary Hand.

My wonderful students and I! I hope everyone had as much fun at creating their own fashion illustrations as I did teaching the workshop.

And shout out to one of the attendees Alyn for her sweet review and blogpost about the workshop! Thank you so much!

CLICK for photos of the Metrobooks Fashion Illustration Exhibition.

Workshop / Fashionary

Oh my gosh! I'll be teaching my very first fashion illustration workshop this month! I've been busy prepping for it with the awesome guys over at Fashionary, it's one day only and it's gonna be awesome and friendly and so much fun so you should come join us. Read on below to find out how.

The workshop goes on for 2 sessions. From 28th March, 2:00-2:45pm by Kitty N. Wong (Hey, that's me!), 4:00-4:45pm by Vikki Yau, at Pageone Harbour City. Fashionary Illustration Workshop is now available for register at Pageone Harbour City store for FREE with HK$300 purchase (at least one Fashionary product must be included) at Page One Harbour City store.

Each participant will receive a Fashionary giftset with the template paper, pencil and eraser and all the drawings materials will be provided, so get your butt down to Page One to register and just bring your beautiful self on March 28 ready to get drawing!

I'll be showing all my lovely students how to draw this fantastic MSGM multi-coloured fur coat from their FW 2015 collection, the workshop will be really hands-on so you'll all learn how to render fur and draw a beautiful feminine face using gouache watercolour and pencil.

A video posted by fashionary (@fashionary) on Mar 4, 2015 at 7:08am PST

There are still a spots left in both of the sessions so GET YOUR BUTT down to the Page One store in Harbour City TST and register! Hope to see you all there! xx

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Sketches / Pradasphere

Did you know Lorde was in town? Playing a secret concert for the opening of Prada's new exhibition Pradasphere in Hong Kong? No? Me either, but don't worry us plebes still got the chance to check out the fabulous exhibition housed in a temporary but glorious structure on top of Pier 4 in Central.

You've never seen the Lamma Island pier look so glamourous, the whole building got a Prada makeover with 'Yue Shue Wan' proclaimed in white letters on a sleek black background. And when you step inside onto the lush black and green checkered carpeting you are transformed into Miuccia's world and the brand's history starting from the 1970's onwards.

If it's one thing I love it's visiting fashion exhibitions.
Here's a few of the sketches I made at the exhibition, I love doing quick sketches while looking at the real thing it makes all the difference in making drawings with a lively immediate quality. After I got home I added a thin wash of colour in gouache and watercolour.

All these Prada shoe prints are available for sale on my Etsy shop, I'm also selling the set of original little sketches too, email me if you want to cop those.

Click through for the [IMG HEAVY] post with all the delicious photos from Pradaphere, warning-- you'll want to buy all the things.

Sketchbook / Is The Living Body the Last Thing Left Alive?

Maybe it's the eternal student instinct in me but I love attending lectures, they're usually super interesting, a good opportunity for me to pretend to be a very serious scholar/artist, and if nothing else they present some nice downtime to make some doodles and people watch.

And that's exactly what I did at the Para Site Conference for their "Is the Living Body the Last Thing Left Alive? The New Performance Turn, its Histories and its Institutions" series a few months ago.

Kitty N. Wong, 2014.
Is The Living Body the Last Thing Left Alive? Ballpoint pen on paper.
30 cm x 21 cm.

Live Drawing / Marks & Spencer

Last month I got a super exciting chance to create an original illustration for Marks & Spencer! I love M&S, when I was in England this summer I stocked up on so many pairs black tights and comfy-cute bras. Plus they're so nice there, whenever I stop by the stores here in Hong Kong they always call me ma'am, I into that.

Located in Lanson Hotel in Causeway Bay, M&S hosted the press event to present their A/W 2014 collection and to celebrate their first time presenting at London Fashion Week. This was the first time I've ever been outfitted by a brand for their event, it was so much fun to pick out an outfit with the M&S team, after many maybe outfits I finally chose a body hugging mid-calf Per Una dress in a red and black geometric print paired with gold and silver accessories. I love how the dress is super comfy (girrrl, I gotta werk!) has a qi-pao vibe because of the length but it's still super modern because of the print and stretch knit fabric.

READ ON to see more photos of the event and my live illustrations.

July TMI / This Month I: Floated Along the Molten River of HK Summer

Sailing along a molten river is a bit of a problematic analogy, what would my vessel be made out of? Surely not wood, that thing would explode into a mountain of flames as soon as I cast off. A metal dingy? No way, the river is made of rocks that are so hot they're melted. Get rrrrreal.

Anyways, that's how I felt this month. This summer month just drifted by idyllically while I binged watched a lot of Orphan Black and now before I know it it's already August.

I've been painting some designs for scarves! Working Artfiy, a company here in Hong Kong that partners with local artists to create printed goods from their artwork the scarves will feature my illustrations and should be ready in a few months so keep your eyes out!

The Madame Bao postcard was featured in The Black Ren's always chic and minimalist #shelfies, get your own pack on my Etsy Shop. Thanks Daniel!

Another design for the Artify x Kitty N. Wong line of scarves, this one is a continuation from the illustration Rainbow Crochet Girl.

Spent a lovely Sunday one the last weekend of this month painting a little elephant in support of #ElephantParade a campaign to raise awareness for the endangered Asian elephant. I'm so happy I get to paint to help support such a great cause!

Swire Properties is going to host Hong Kong's first Elephant Parade this summer at Pacific Place Hong Kong, Cityplaza and Citygate Outlets starting in August so keep your eyes out for them!

My 27th birthday is coming up next month (gulp!) and I've been thinking about buying myself some jewels to celebrate, last week I hit up the Jade Bazaar in Yau Ma Tei to hunt for some booty and little pearl earrings.

At the library, procrastination by doodlenation. Wearing my new red seamed dress from Kate Spade Saturday, Sseko sandals and vintage woven leather bag.

Got to check out Gemma O'brien typographic work at Pop: Summer Group Show, it's so cool to see the works in the flesh since I'm always admiring her spew bags through my tiny iPhone screen, The show is on now until August 23 at Above Second in Sai Ying Pun.

July has been a slow painting month - I told you I'm currently drifting (adrift is probably more accurate) down the molten river of summer laziness. Here's a WIP shot of the redhead painting I've been slowly working on - hawt.

June TMI / This Month I: Got Back to the City

On my very last day in London I spent the afternoon wolfing down scones and chamomile tea at the top floor restaurant at the National Portrait Gallery, it's got one of the best and most interesting views of London, looking towards the Thames behind Trafalgar Square.

Feeling super inspired and creative from my trip in London, I wanted to make sure that I had a fabulous outfit to wear to The Golden Age, Duddell's 1st Anniversary Party. I went to Sham Shui Po, HK's sewing district to find fabric and trimmings and made my own costume, a gold lame qi-pao. I felt like THIS is how a young girl should live, like a F. Scott Fitzgerald adaption of Cinderella staying up into the wee hours to sew my own dress for the ball. Check out the final look here, complete with gold flakes under my eyes. Gold Dust Woman!

 Sketches from the Xu Bing exhibition at Asia Society, read the full blog post here.

"I will not just be a tourist in the world of images" - Anais Nin. Practicing hand-lettering which is always fun and easy.

Organizing my London-trip sketchbook, a pressed daisy, the flowers were ubiquitous on the sidewalks and in the parks all over the city. An art nouveau sticker from my favourite fast-food joint LEON's, and a ticket stub from Chatsworth House.

 Working slowly (but not even all that surely) on my London zine.

Spent an accidental afternoon at the beach, that's one of my favourite things about this cosmopolitan city, as cramped as the highrises are you are never too far from nature. This is Repluse Bay, a 20 minute bus ride from Central.

Just some loose sketches, since being back, maybe because it's the humid summer but I've had a hard time finding my daily rhythm and routine again. Doing little drawings without any purpose in mind always helps me feel better.

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Live Drawing / TST + My First Video!

A few weeks ago in an effort to challenge myself I decided to set myself up in, Tsim Sha Tsui, a super busy part of Hong Kong near the harbour and try doing live portraits on the streets for the first time. It was terrifying but also really rewarding and fun.

Doing street portraits is something I've always wanted to try, but was terrified of. I had discussed the idea quietly to a few of my close friends and even mentioned it to my mom. They all thought it was a great idea and encouraged me to go for it. But I still wasn't sure. Wouldn't it be weird? No one invited me to do it? Can I really just set up on the street? What if I invite everyone to come and then I get kicked out or questioned by the police?
 

I've always been really into this idea of artists that took advantage of whatever small circumstances around them at the time and used it to bring their work out on to the street and use it as a chance to continually work on their craft. For example, I love the story of Jean-Michel Basquiat who as a young man sold painted t-shirts and postcards on the streets of Manhattan in order to make money. 

I wanted to do something like that!

Why not take advantage of Hong Kong's lack of busking regulations, I've seen lots of young people setting up in Mong Kok either doing caricatures or playing music. Why shouldn't I do it? While I'm still young and living in the city.

The older I get the more I realize that opportunity is not something that is given, you have to take it.

"Many people have the perception that you have to be granted power, when in reality, you just have to claim it. Power isn’t limited to the possession or command over others. Power is the currency of making $%!^ happen." -- Denna Varshavskaya

So I mustered up my courage and made a Facebook event to let my friends know and posted to my Instagram to tell my followers what I would be up to. I knew I would feel so much more comfortable if even a handful of my friends were around.

My friend Jessica and three super stylish girls who are studying at SCAD, they had seen my invite on Instagram and came out to support! Thanks so much girls for stopping by, you are all so wonderful.

As the night progressed, the more portraits I did, the more confident I became and it was evident (at least to me) that I was getting better. Throughout the day lots of beautiful stylish friends stopped by, including blogger Sybil Kot, aka The Style Voyager. Can you spot her? Hint: look for the signature hair flip!

Polaroids from street photographer Dicky Lai.

And without further ado, the video! Check it out for all the action that day as filmed by the super talented Josh Tam at Josh Takes Photos. He did a beautiful job of capturing the energy of the day. We started at 3pm and as the sun set and evening came around the pier was buzzing with lots of pedestrians and a handful of young local street musicians. It felt great to be sketching in that environment and to be a part of a group who were bring more art and creativity to the streets and people of Hong Kong, however transient.

 

The video and screenshots were all filmed by Josh Tam of Josh Takes Photos, get in touch with him here.

And some more link karma! Ann from Kremb de la Kremb stopped by to get a livesketch that day and wrote a really sweet post with lots of great photos, go check it out on her blog.

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