Spotlight On YAFies: Molly Wong

Molly Wong
Artist with Art! WeCan

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
When I was a child. I always found schoolwork frustrating, and my parents put a lot of pressure on me to finish my homework and revise. Art was the subject that interested me most and I never got tired of spending time on a painting. That was when I realised art could be my future career.

What was the inspiration behind the theme of your workshop “We Are All Unique” in the Art! WeCan project?
When I was younger, I had a low period where I compared myself to others and felt my artwork was mediocre and lacking in style. I lost my motivation and interest in creating. Later, I changed my way of thinking and realised that everyone has their own preferences, strengths and weaknesses, their own pace and stages of growth. We shouldn’t lose confidence by comparing ourselves to others. The most important thing is to listen to our hearts, and to remember that we are all unique and special.

How did you guide the students’ work?
To help students create work that reflected their personalities, I encouraged them to make self-portraits inspired by abstract art and pop art techniques, and to include at least one life-confirming motto as self-motivation.

What surprised you most about the workshop?
At the beginning, students were quite quiet and introverted and weren’t sure how to start creating their work. Over time, they figured out some brilliant ideas. I let them develop their work freely to keep the originality and authenticity. What surprised me most was how much the work they produced reflected their individual personalities.

What makes you unique?
I think the most unique thing about me is that I’m like a goldfish – I have a goldfish memory! I’m pretty forgetful, and rarely do anything the same way twice. By exploring different processes, sometimes I get a better result. Then I jot it in my notebook as a reminder.

Share one thing you’re proud of.
I learnt to let go of my obsession with “perfection” and leave creative room for the unexpected. “Imperfect” is just another kind of “perfect”, and being able to accept imperfection made my creative thinking a lot healthier.

How do you stay positive in the face of failure or discouragement?
I take a deep breath and calm down. Using positive thinking and self-encouragement I try to adjust my mindset, and this helps me bounce back from failure.

What advice would you give to young people who are passionate about visual arts?
Cherish the time that you are alone and calm, as this is when inspiration will come to you. Try to jot down new ideas and find a way to implement them. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. If you have lots of ideas but never do anything with them, it can create a sense of powerlessness that makes it too easy to give up on your goals.

Which artist do you admire the most?
The painter Wu Guanzhong. Despite living through periods of great social turmoil, he never stopped creating. His coloured ink paintings are truly unique. Many of his works feature Hong Kong as the theme and background. They resonate with me as I have so many memories here.