STUDIO VISIT
MONGKOK, HONG KONG - In a hole in the wall Taiwanese restaurant, renowned conceptual artist Kacey Wong scrolls through his phone, showing multiple images of his one-eyed tabby cat Ballball. “When I saw him at the SPCA, I knew he was the cat for me. Different but very sure of himself. Also, fully trained. But I taught him to do tricks, too.” There is a short video where Ballball slaps a clever high-five to Kacey. It has our small table in a gleeful ruckus and thankfully, through our late afternoon lunch, the restaurant is close to empty. Over brightly coloured bubble tea and noodles, the conversation wanders: from his childhood, his college years at Cornell and his upcoming pet project, which is installing a vegetable and herb garden in the balcony of Ap Lei Chau studio, Object Factory. Of course there is more brewing on the artist’s corner, career-wise. It is a fortunate multitasking role that Kacey (who also teaches at Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design) totes more so as the year closes. The word ‘superbeast’ is uttered a handful of times. And while the unintentional Rob Zombie reference is playfully discussed in varying philosophical, political and personal contexts, this could be just the word that encapsulates Kacey Wong and his drive to push and promote art. Outside, it is a beautiful afternoon in the Mongkok Flower Market. After lunch is wrapped up, our little group prepares to do a little wandering of our own.
Where do you find inspiration? I think there are two ways I do this. The first one is through the themes that are proposed to me when I do exhibitions. This is inspiration that is initiated from an outside source. But I also get inspired internally. There are recurring themes, kind of like recurring nightmares. A lot of these concepts have something to do with drifting, homelessness and wandering. This is a reflection on my early childhood when most of the time I didn’t have a permanent address. These days a lot of my work tackles the concepts and ideas of home, houses and shelter. What sock gets socked first? Left foot or right foot? I actually put on the left sock first, I will hold the sock with my right hand and when I lift my left leg, it is actually easier that is why the left goes on first. I think this signifies a balance of some sort.
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Breakfasts usual ly start one’s day. What is the best way to start yours? This one is easy. My favourite breakfast food is two eggs, bacon, beans, and asparagus. I like my eggs sunny side up. But of course this idealism. In reality, my breakfasts are usually the quick bowl of cereal and occasionally an apple. Proudest far?
accomplishment
thus
The proudest accomplishment I’ve achieved is that I am honest to myself and that I went for what I wanted, which was art. I didn’t veer away from what I love. This is very difficult, I think, to do in this city. It takes a lot of “city-ness” and guts to do this. Or craziness.