Meet artist from Hong Kong, Bubi Au Yeung.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My nickname is Bubi. I was born and live in the sleepless city, Hong Kong. I am a self-taught artist and have been creating art in various forms such as illustration, multimedia design, toy, wooden sculptures, etc. I believe in simplicity.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

Hong Kong is the melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures where people with different ethnic backgrounds live. Traditional and modern, old and new merge to create Hong Kong’s distinctive culture. We have different styles of food and we celebrate a large number of festivals such as Easter, Christmas, and Lunar New Year, etc. Hong Kong is cramped. Most of us live in a tiny space, and I feel suffocated sometimes. I am trained to be efficient in work and daily life in order to survive in this city.

Hong Kong is the melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures where people with different ethnic backgrounds live. Traditional and modern, old and new merge to create Hong Kong’s distinctive culture.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

BEST: Convenience – you easily get what you want from different stores and access to places by all sorts of transport.

WORST: Hong Kong’s high-density urban designs and cramped living spaces 

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

busy, flexible, efficient

How did you start your career in art?

I’ve been posting my work on the internet since 2004 and I started to draw and design for clients who found my work online.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

I am thankful that others believe in me, more than how much I believe in myself.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

My goal, always, is to inspire others. I wish I could spend more time to do what I truly love – art, but for now,  I still need to work to sustain my living.

My goal, always, is to inspire others. I wish I could spend more time to do what I truly love – art, but for now,  I still need to work to sustain my living.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Dead: Paul Klee

Alive: Mark Gonzales

How would you describe the women around you?

strong, creative, kind-hearted, empathetic, caring, independent.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

Sadly, none.

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

When I was working on a UI design project with some tech guys, they would assume we (the women in the team) possess less knowledge than they do in UI and some of them challenge our decisions. It takes lots of patience to let them understand our perspectives and it takes time to work with them smoothly.

When I was working on a UI design project with some tech guys, they would assume we (the women in the team) possess less knowledge than they do in UI and some of them challenge our decisions.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Don’t be afraid to fail and don’t put limits on yourself. Also, feel free to explore different possibilities and keep experimenting with different ways to create.

Photos courtesy of Bubi Au Yeung.