Meet the Artist // Loktung Wong

Can you give us an introduction about yourself and about your artistic background?

I only started to realise that I wanted to be an artist a few years ago. A lot of people assume I studied fine art or that I was always an artistic child, but I actually had the lowest grade in art at school and was definitely not seen as creative, nor did I think I was. I didn’t even know I could draw like this until a few years ago. I always struggle to explain to people how I got into art, because really it was through recognising my own experiences and emotions, I started realising that I can actually draw. I am still in the process of understanding myself how I can suddenly draw like this.

Can you tell us more about your artistic method and how you came up with your drawing techniques?

A lot of people think I’m obsessed with ink pens, but that’s not actually true. I always put my feelings first, so it’s whatever I can resonate with. I believe humans are very complex creatures, especially when we become more aware of ourselves. I think why I use this medium is because I can feel the complexity of humans through the creation of intricate and delicate details with just an ink pen. The chaos within the details of nature, such as the peeling of dead skin and the black blots on the figures, make me able to relate with the pain and the different layers of humans.

Maybe it’s normal for you to know how to be aware of your feelings and surroundings, but for me it felt like I woke up from a coma. I am now constantly asking myself ‘do I like this, do I like that?’ Sometimes drawing can be quite meditative for me, because I’m constantly teaching myself to be present. I would be like ‘okay, there’s a shadow under my armpit. Oh, the wrinkles on my fingers are curved shapes. Oh, there are five fingers on my hand.’ I think maybe partly I have become so obsessed with being aware of what is in front of me, which has led me to having the ability to draw realistically.

Is there anything that inspires you in your daily life? What do you seek your inspiration from?

I think it’s mainly from my experiences and recognizing its impact. But apart from that, I’m inspired by many other artforms. A while ago someone said to me there’s a lot of tension in my art and it is actually very still even though my art can be sad. I never realised this but actually a lot of the art I have been attracted to has a certain kind of tension and stillness. For example, Li-Young Lee has a poem called The Undressing which basically involves him trying to seduce God while God explains to him the meaning of life. This creates a slow tangle of sex and Zen, making it even more sensual to me. I like analysing art; not just feeling an artwork, but also questioning how it delivered this kind of emotion. I realise I also apply the concept of using a combination of contradictions in my art. I remember when I was initially attracted by the leaves I used on my figures because they seemed pleasing at first glance, but at a closer look there is a lot of ugliness within them, which created a tension

that really provoked me. I think there are a lot of things in this world we assume are so simple but are actually quite profound once we grasp them.

How do you like your experience in GlogauAIR so far and the experience of living with all the other artists?

It’s nice because in my studio back home in Hong Kong, it’s very solitary. Here I always see people in the kitchen and it’s nice to be around artists, and see their thinking process. And also, what is interesting is that people here in Berlin are so open to nude or even dark art, or aggressive art, like it’s normal. From what I am used to, Hong Kong is more conservative. Here no one would tell me my art is too dark, but in Hong Kong, I always get told my art is too sad or dark. People don’t jump to conclusions too quickly, because they find it too melancholy. So it has been so nice to experience that.