Recently I interviewed a couple of my creative friends and asked them a couple of questions about being a creative in Hong Kong.
I scrounged up this topic amidst my own identity crisis as a human being who has creative outputs: a creative (?!) My struggle with defining what being a creative person is, what I’m meant to do, why should I do it, how should I do it and should I even do it, has lead me to look onto my peers who I deem as creative people and continue to inspire me to be the most unapologetic and expressive version of myself. I hope that their thoughts, advice and blooming faces (film photos taken by me: an auto film camera noob) inspire you to create as much as they have inspired me!
Part 1
Katia
First up is Katia, my dear friend who always gives me the best visual creative directions. Her illustrations, podcast, blog and her newest creations: comic strips, all encapsulate her creative essence, her bubbly and loving personality. Here’s what she had to say:
L: What's the hardest thing about being a creator in hk?
K: *This is quite a loaded question, so these are the factors i’ve reflected with what I have struggled with*
1. *Finance - art supplies aren’t cheap, they’re an investment. Especially if you want to produce something and try a new medium, tangibly recreating it in real life could actually cost a lot.*
2. *Creative Block - This has been a recurring theme as a creator, especially when I have to balance everything else in my life that's so demanding (my job). The main factor is I’m usually burnt out, I compare myself to another person or I don’t feel good enough to really create anything. It's a lot worse because I let my emotions get the best of me, there would be moments where I don’t feel connected or inspired by my art. I feel demotivated from creating anything and it's hard to really get anything done*
3. *Job opportunities - Yes, there are opportunities to do art here in Hong Kong, but not enough for them to accept me. I have found it difficult to find jobs that would hire me, it's either they’re limited to individuals who have 5-10 years experience or they prefer creative individuals that’s up to their taste, so trying to pursue a career in the creative field seems impossible for me to achieve.*
4. *Acceptance - I generally think in Asian countries, its hard for people to take being in the creative field seriously, its fucking terrifying to tell people about dreams or lifestyle you want to pursue - that in reality isn’t as promising as being a doctor or engineer. so thats where I’m at a crossroads with.*
L:What motivates you to continue to create(despite everything)?
K:*Hmm… It might sound cheesy but I love creating and my art so much, I don’t measure my success on recognition, how much its financed or the job titles anymore. If I am able to have the time do what I love, I already find that very successful for me.*
*My coping mechanism is to remind myself that even though I may lack in job experience or Instagram likes for what I create, my talent is something no one can take away from me. If you’re passionate about something that your world lights up and you feel more fulfilled, I guarantee you that everything else comes naturally.*
Bonus Qs
L: Do you see yourself doing jobs in the creative field in the future, be it full time or as a side job?
K:*Yes definitely, I have crazy dreams for it but hopefully this all prevails and just don’t live inside my head. I feel that I still have room for improvement when it comes to my craft, so that’s what I’m working on now (cheers to my future hehe)*
L:Is there anything you wanna tell young people/people who want to create but are too scared to?
K:*Honestly, nothing wise but just go for it. Getting into anything creative could be daunting but as long as you focus more on what you want to create, you enjoy the process that your ideas are coming to life more than the fear you feel inside of you. Allow yourself to be vulnerable throughout your creative process, your ability to create should motivate you to improve on yourself or break certain norms, so its something to feel a strong adrenaline rush than to dismiss that opportunity.*
L:Who would be your dream person to collab with?
K:*to be honest, my dream collab is with my friends, My friend group are a bunch of creatives that I get inspired by what they do each day, we're also quite different in art and in our personalities, but I have known them long enough that our differences actually helps us balance each other out, so it would be an interesting concept to put, I hope that goes hand in hand if i ever collab with them."*
You can find Katia and her artworks at @yysabbell on Instagram
Next on the list is Kimberly Lopez, my spirit guide and the hardest working person I know with the voice of an angel. When she’s not caught up in the grind of working to pay the bills she does sketches, song covers and sometimes even her own original songs !!!! Here’s some sane advice from my favourite advice giver:
L:What's the hardest thing about being a creator in hk?
K: Frankly I’m not too concerned with how other people think of my art and music. But I guess I get slightly more anxious over how viewers think of the *music* I put out, particularly the producers I’m acquainted with. Just because there are so many talented producers and artists in the community already, and to me the bar has been set pretty high, it is always in the back of my mind whether or not they’d think my music is up to par because it might lack professional quality (since music is just a side hobby for me).
I think one universal factor though that makes it so hard to be a creator in HK is time. I’ve got hardly any time to create. First there was uni (and work), now it’s just 90% work. On my rest days I just want to either live or rest, and unfortunately my passion to create isn’t enough to drag me out of bed (or my go-to bar).
Then there’s just the overall lack of importance this city places on artistry. It’s very difficult to stamp an official “professional creator” label on yourself. Apart from social media, the market hasn’t got a lot of space for the display of pure artistry. HK’s all about technical skills that run the economy, so a lot of creators like me find it difficult to further develop their content because they don’t see a future in it.
L:What motivates you to continue to create(despite everything)?
K:When I do have time, and I feel like being productive instead of sleeping and hanging out with my mates, creating art and music acts as a great form of therapy for me. It helps me forget all the stress and hardship. It’s just me and my sketchbook—and or my makeshift pop-filter.
So to be honest, I create mostly for myself. The attention through putting it out there is just a bonus. It is a hobby, it’s therapy, and it’s detox. And so, I keep creating.
Bonus Qs
L: Do you see yourself doing jobs in the creative field in the future, be it full time or as a side job?
K: I see myself doing it as a side job for sure. I aim to find a stable job that doesn’t suffocate me too much so I have the time and energy to work on what I love and ideally monetize it.
L: Is there anything you wanna tell young people/people who want to create but are too scared to?
K: F*ck what other people think. Do it for yourself.
You can find Kimberly at @kimchi_lopez on Instagram, although she is on private so......
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