Spotlight on YAFies: Marka Mak

Marka Mak 
Artist with HK Urban Canvas

How did you get started as a visual artist? Why did you choose this medium? 
I’ve been interested in painting since I was a child. Then I majored in Scenic Art at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and experimented with different painting techniques. After graduation, I worked with different organisations and clients, and gradually learned to tell stories and teach through the arts. To be honest, I don't know anything except visual arts. That’s my only creative medium for self-expression. I’d say fate chose visual arts for me.

How would you describe your art? Does it relate to your personality?
Complex? Versatile? No personal style at all? I can't find the right words to describe my art. My work is quite aggressive, diverse and somehow undefined, probably because my nature is quite irritable, intense, sensitive and contradictory. Anyway I'm still developing a signature style.

This is the fourth year that you have participated in the HK Urban Canvas community art project. What do you think is the most special aspect of the project? 
I started off as a behind-the-scenes worker, so I’m trained to be a good observer and critical thinker. In my eyes, the highlight of this community art project is not the shutter work itself, but the people working in the shops. It captures the human connection in the neighbourhood and tells the personal stories of the shop owners. Without this human touch, the artwork would be no more meaningful than the advertising billboards you can see anywhere. This project wouldn’t have been possible without the help, support and guidance of all the parties working closely together. I truly appreciate their hard work because communication is also a delicate art.

What steps are involved in creating a shutter artwork?
HKYAF and I first visit the shop owners, listen to their stories, make a note of important details, design the graphics, communicate with the owners again and discuss ideas. Once there’s a consensus, the artists mark the date and start working. Each artist has their own way of approaching the shutter artwork, and the creative process and duration vary depending on the design.

What is your most impressive shutter artwork? 
Definitely the first one I did at Kwan Hing Kee tofu shop in Sai Ying Pun. It may not be the most colourful or dazzling shutter artwork, but it reminds me of so many untold stories. It’s memorable because I challenged myself and changed from a passive and introverted theatre scenic artist to an effective communicator. All at once, I needed to reach out to the shop owners, talk to them and listen to their stories. When I was painting on the street, people in the neighbourhood would chat with me and I was suddenly in the spotlight. It wasn’t so easy for me as I wasn’t used to situations like that.
I can still remember how excited and shy I was. But it was a great experience and I learned so much from the shop owner. She works hard to sustain her family business and her own interests, despite her age. She doesn’t let anything stop her from pursuing her passions. Amazingly, we're still friendly and I visit her from time to time. What a wonderful fate!

Where does your inspiration come from? What do you do when you run out of ideas?
Read books and look for fun stuff on social media. When I feel stuck, I cook – buy food, slice it, boil it, saute it, fry it, bake it. This helps clear my mind and gives me some fresh inspiration, even if I don't eat all of the results.

If you could build a new world through painting, what would your “world” be like? 
I think there’d be a lot of food in my world! I love eating so much! If 60% of a picture is colourful, intense, joyful, gorgeous, singing and dancing and sexiness, then the remaining 40% is bound to be dark and chaotic. Every life has its roses and thorns. There are dark days but there’s always a bright side to look forward to, and I want to take things as they come. Wherever I go, that’s where I am.

What advice do you have for teenagers who also love the visual arts? 
I think aesthetic sense and sense of responsibility are equally important, no matter what kind of art you’re interested in. To develop a sense of aesthetics, you need to appreciate the beauty around you and create beauty as well. Meanwhile, to be a responsible person, you should put yourself in others’ shoes and keep your word at work. Don’t shirk responsibilities or leave a mess for others to clean up – that’s always a good virtue.

Which artist has influenced you the most?
​To be honest, I used to think I was influenced by a lot of artists, by my teachers, by artists on social media, by my idols, and so on. But I finally realised that it was my parents who had the greatest influence on me. While none of us would call our parents artists, their personalities and values influence all of our choices growing up.

​In museums, we often say “When you look at a work of art, you should also look at its historical context”. In my opinion, “When you look at a person, you should also look at their family”. Our parents have shaped who we are today. My art captures the beauty that exists in people because my parents taught me this. By the way, I’m my parents’ biggest “work of art” so it makes perfect sense that they’ve had the most influence on me!