Spotlight On YAFies: Felix Yiu

Felix Yiu
Professional artist, art booth coordinator and volunteer instructor for Standard Chartered Arts in the Park

When did you first take part in Standard Chartered Arts in the Park and what was your role?
I first joined Standard Chartered Arts in the Park in 2009 as a face-painting artist.

Describe Standard Chartered Arts in the Park in one sentence.
The most highly anticipated end-of-year event blending art education, live performance, and public engagement.

What does it take to become a youth volunteer?
The most important qualities for a youth volunteer are a sense of responsibility and a willingness to communicate and collaborate with others. You gain a lot from the experience!

What’s the most challenging part of organising a large community arts event?
Organising a large event involves everything from securing venues and procuring supplies, to coordinating volunteers and handling the smallest details, like where to put rubbish bins. You have to mentally rehearse and document the entire flow of the event beforehand, make sure you have sufficient resources, and prepare for unexpected scenarios. Even with the best preparations, surprises happen. So the biggest challenge is to be super adaptable and able to problem-solve quickly during the event.

What was your favourite experience of working with youth volunteers?
One time, in preparation for the parade, I was working with youth volunteers and volunteers from Standard Chartered offering face painting for the parade performers. As the youth volunteers had had two face painting classes with me, they already had some experience, so I asked them to share what they'd learned with the Standard Chartered team. Seeing these youth volunteers generously pass on what they’ve learned to Standard Chartered adult volunteers, explaining everything with such clarity – it was truly heartwarming.

Who inspired your artistic journey?
My Form 4 art teacher, Ms Chan, who encouraged me and my classmates to explore different painting styles. She never criticised our work, just patiently showed us how to improve. To this day, I’m still very grateful to her.

What do you do when you lack inspiration?
There's no point trying to force your way through a bottleneck. I usually step away and do something completely unrelated. For example, I like gardening. Tending to the soil, trimming and caring for plants, these things help to clear my mind. If I give it time, inspiration always finds its way back.

What advice do you have for youngsters who are passionate about the arts?
Practice makes perfect! 
It might sound like a cliché, and yes, practice can be repetitive and dull, but it’s never a waste of time. Consistent practice creates a strong foundation that helps you express your ideas. 
I’d also encourage people to visit exhibitions. There are always lots of interesting art shows in Hong Kong, and many of them are free. It’s a great way to broaden your perspective and soak up artistic inspiration!