Spotlight On YAFies: Cheung Sin-man

Cheung Sin-man
Giant puppet artist at Standard Chartered Arts in the Park 2023

How did you become an artist?

I started out as an assistant, but soon found that I also wanted to pass on the techniques and artistry to others. Then I was invited by HKYAF to take part in the artist-in-residence programme and began teaching students how to make giant puppets.

Where did you learn to make giant puppets?

I learnt my giant puppet making skills from another artist, Eva Cheng – she was the one who encouraged me to join Standard Chartered Arts in the Park. Most of my knowledge, the techniques I use for giant puppet making, are things I learnt from her. Once you have the basic skills, you’re able to think of new ideas for crafting all kinds of giant puppets.

What stages were involved in creating the giant fossil puppet?

The creative stages for the giant fossil puppet involved designing, selecting and testing the materials and structure, building the structure, deciding the style direction and decorating. The most important thing is choosing suitable materials. The puppet is much bigger and taller than the puppeteer, so we have to make sure that it’s stable and lightweight. 

What are the biggest challenges of creating the puppet? 

The biggest challenge was to make it immediately recognisable as a dinosaur fossil while keeping the distinctive shape of the skeleton. The puppet is inspired by a pterosaur, which is similar to a bird. So we also looked at the skeletons of birds and humans and exaggerated some parts to make the shape really clear.

What’s special about the giant fossil puppet?

We took reference from pterosaur fossils and human bones for the design. Take a look at the bones in different parts of the body, they’re not like regular dinosaur bones!

What do you do if you need inspiration?

I usually go for a meal. If I’m not hungry, I go for a walk. A change of environment can give you new ideas and make it easier to find creative direction, or simply clear your head and help you enjoy the moment. Having a change of scene and letting go of stress inspire me.

What advice do you have for youngsters who are passionate about visual arts?

Observe, think, and stay curious. Hong Kong is a culturally diverse society that provides plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in different arts and meet people from different cultures. These things can be really inspiring for young people. Many places in the city involve arts, like bazaars, the annual Standard Chartered Arts in the Park, museums, art galleries, even shopping malls. There are lots of events worth joining and appreciating.

What is your favourite animal?

I don’t have one favourite animal. I like all of them – species diversity is what makes nature so wonderful.

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