Recently, I read an interview with Chan Yik Long who is a Hong Kong artist and this is my first time to see his works. Most of his paintings relate to fear. The abstract fear of demons, planted in Chan’s mind since he was still a little boy, that weighs most heavily on his paintings. Now, fear becomes his main inspiration and what he is trying to give a form to fear.
From the ferocious creatures and faces he drew in the painting, it is easy to feel the darkness and even the fear. What I admired about his works is Chan tries to express his feelings and at the same time he is physicalising the emotion (i.e fear) through his painting. Besides, art also acts as a therapy for him to tackle the fear, the demon in his heart. Chan’s works make me also think of the work from the Japanese horror manga artist, Junji Ito (伊藤潤二). No matter on the style of Junji’s drawing or the plot of the stories, readers can experience the fear and horror which is even more realistic than a Horror movie.
Drawing of Junji Ito (Selected the one which is less horrible lol)
Overall, I like the idea Chan wants to give a form to fear and I think I have underestimated the power of paintings. Sometimes I was too focused on what is the best way to express something and I made things become very complicated at last. I think sometimes I can try to use a simple way to do the same thing just like the Happy Cycle #5 I have done and it can also work well.
Wong Chui Yin, Iris 