Steven John ho現居於倫敦，是一個自由身的藝術家。他擅長創作大尺幅的插畫，作品啟發自他喜愛的90年代卡通、電影和漫畫。他也是由Jonathan Jay Lee為Affordable Art Fair 2022策展的「Young Talent HK x Next Gen」展覽項目中26位新進藝術家之一。
Steven John ho is based in London, working as a freelance, commissioned artist. He specialises in large scale illustrations inspired by his love for 90s cartoons, movies and comic books. He is one of the 26 emerging artists selected by curator Jonathan Jay Lee, to be featured in “Young Talent HK x Next Gen” to exhibit works in Affordable Art Fair 2022.
5 QUESTIONS FOR STEVEN JOHN HO
- 怎樣形容自己的畫風？
我覺得自己還沒有特定的畫風，但同時我積極制止自己找尋一個特定的風格。我愛創造藝術但更覺得自己是一個講故事的人。因此每當我開始創作一幅畫時，我會偏向讓故事去定立我的畫風。如果它需要素描，我就做素描；如果它需要大膽的形狀或色彩，或油畫，或黑白，我會迎合內容所需。我覺得我的畫風限制於我的技巧。每當我見到一個畫家可以做到而我做不到，我會催逼自己去學習，而任何我學到的，會變成我製作劇目的新工具。它會令我更大膽去創作更有雄心的藝術作品。 - How do you describe your style?
I don’t think I have a style yet, but I have also been actively avoiding finding one. I love art making but I see myself more as a story teller. So whenever I start a new piece, I tend to let the story dictate the style of the artwork. If it requires line work, I do line work; if it requires bold shapes and colours, or painting, or black and white, then I do whatever fits the narrative. I think my style is my limit in terms of skill. Whenever I see an artist do something I can’t, I feel compelled to learn it, and whatever I end up learning becomes a new tool in my repertoire, and I feel emboldened to create more ambitious artworks with it.
- 最常使用的工具和顏料?
我目前的創作是數碼藝術，我利用Wacom畫板，最近開始用Microsoft Surface。但我也喜歡用傳統工具，例如水墨，墨筆，水彩和油漆。 - What are the most frequently used tools and paints?
I am currently a digital artist, I use a wacom drawing pad, and recently started using a Microsoft Surface. But I also like using traditional mediums too like ink, graphite, watercolours and oils.
- 「Fiction County Police Department」系列有何喻意？
我是一晚醒來便創作了這「虛擬縣衙」系列，因為我想用它作為實驗，去了解NFT及其對藝術以及藝術家的衝擊。我想知有關加密應用的心態、哲學和科技，但我亦想看它是否真的對不論年青或資深的藝術家是一個新的空間。「虛擬縣衙」系列是我對全球模擬人物的神話和傳説的一個自我轉折。以他們的微小或嚴重罪行，風趣或幽默地反映他們的個性。 - Any specific meaning for the series Fiction County Police Department?
I created the concept for this collection overnight, because I wanted to know what an NFT was and the impact it was going to have on art and artists alike. I wanted to learn about the crypto mentality, philosophy and technology, but I also wanted to see if it was truly a new space for artists, be they young or seasoned. “Fiction County Police Department” is my own twist on myths, legends and fictional characters from all over the world, they have been charged for trivial or serious crimes that are humorous and ironic to their personalities.
- 最喜歡自己哪一件作品？為什麼？
我最新完成的作品通常都是我最喜愛的，因為在那刻與它有更多感情聯繫，但過了一段時間，對它的感覺會變成第三者，可以用一個比較客觀的眼光欣賞它。但歸根到底最喜愛的，還是首選我舊有混搭系列「玩撲克的小丑」、 「Dents 調查員與偵探」、「鈣化」。這些作品是我認為無懈可擊的。我一向都喜歡海報，而我的混搭系列基本上是我成長時想擁有的海報。他們是我童年90年代的結晶品，漫畫、遊戲及電影人物大全。 - Which is your favourite work? Why?
The last piece of work I complete tends to be my favourite because I’m more emotionally attached to it, but after a period of time, the work stops feeling like my own and I can enjoy it with a more objective eye. But if it comes down to favourite, I still prefer my old Mash Up series, “Clowns Playing Poker”, “Dent’s Investigators and Detectives”, and “Calcified”. They are works that I feel I wouldn’t change anything in. I’ve always loved posters, and my Mash Up series are basically the posters I wanted to own when I was growing up. They are the culmination of my childhood through the 90s, characters from comics, games and movies all in one setting.
- 不畫畫時會做什麼？
我有一個兩歲大的兒子，他基本上佔據我所有的時間。而我之能夠工作，是因為我有一個很了不起的妻子，承擔了主要的壓力，讓我能夠追隨我的夢想。我不畫畫的時候，會盡力照顧他們，所以無論怎樣，我每天都過得很滿足。 - What do you do when not drawing?
I have a 2 year old boy who basically takes up all my time, and the only reason I’m able to work is because of my amazing wife, who takes the brunt of the pressure so that I can pursue my dream. I try my best to take care of both of them when I’m not drawing, so I feel quite fulfilled day to day, no matter what.
Affordable Art Fair 2022
VIP Preview (by invitation only):
2022.8.4 13:00 – 16:00
Opening Night:
2022.8.4 16:00 – 20:00
Public Opening Hours:
2022.8.5 11:00 – 20:00
2022.8.6 10:00 – 19:00
2022.8.7 10:00 – 18:00
Venue:
香港會議展覽中心
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Ticketing
Opening Night & AAF Pass: HK$300
Opening Night: HK$165
Family Morning (minimum purchase of 2 tickets or above): HK$150
Public Opening, Concession (senior citizens aged 65 or above and full-time students): HK$120
Courtesy to the artist