Published: 27/12/2024
The exhibition “Klara and the Orange Cat” is in full swing, featuring an interview with artist Kong Chun Nga (Kitty). This conversation reveals the emotional journey and sources of inspiration behind the creation, showcasing the artists’ love for and deep understanding of their work.
💬: The title “Klara and the Orange Cat ” suggests a connection to Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel. Beyond the initial inspiration, how has your understanding of Klara’s character and the themes of this novel developed throughout your artistic process?
🗣️: Although Klara is a robot (Artificial Friend), she possesses more faith and keen insight into the world than any human. This allows her to see the small yet beautiful aspects of daily life in a bleak world. I not only identify with the “mechanised” roles in everyday life but also express the beautiful scenery and things I observe. Perhaps daily work can be quite tedious, but from an artistic perspective, all experiences can serve as nourishment for creation. The novel ” Klara and the Sun” is merely the starting point for this exhibition. When I create my paintings, there isn’t much direct correlation with the story in the book. The exhibition’s title came about from a casual discussion with Alex, as we felt ” Klara and the Orange Cat” has a nice ring to it. There weren’t many other considerations besides that.
💬: How did the collaboration between the two artists contribute to the exhibition’s unique perspective and aesthetics?
🗣️: Alex’s work often revolves around the relationship between the city and nature. I’ve seen many of his works and resonated with them. Given our similarities in colour palette and themes in painting, this exhibition conveys a sense of “comfort.” Since our lives are quite busy, we primarily share our painting processes with each other and occasionally meet to update on our progress.
💬: What are your plans after this exhibition?
🗣️: In February, we will hold a small exhibition at Youth Square in collaboration with the Hong Kong Art School (the title is yet to be determined). The exhibition will showcase some of Alex’s painting sketches and I will write text for these works, transforming them into a short story.
In artistic creation, inspiration comes from life. But the artist’s unique perspective and understanding make the work stand out. Through the exhibition, the audience not only appreciates the artist’s works but also gets a glimpse into the artist’s inner world and insights about life. We look forward to witnessing more brilliant creations from artists in the future, letting the spark of art ignite among us.
Klara and the Orange Cat — Exhibition at The Gallery of Hong Kong Art School
Exhibition Period: 5 Dec 2024 – 8 Feb 2025
Time: 11am – 8pm (Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays)
Venue: The Gallery of Hong Kong Art School (10/F, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong)
Artists: Kitty Kong, Alex Heung
