Actress Karena Lam is Living the Life Artistic
The Canadian-born actress rose to stardom with multiple movie hits over the past 14 years, winning her three Golden Horse Awards. Now the mother of two is stepping into the art world as the curator of a new calligraphy exhibition. Photos by Kirk Kenny / studiozag.com
I was born and raised in Canada, but moved to Taiwan when I was 15 in order to develop my singing career. But what I really wanted to do was act. In 2001, [film director and producer] Derek Yee was producing a movie by director Ann Hui called “July Rhapsody,” starring Jacky Cheung and Anita Mui. He flew me into Hong Kong for an audition and I got the role, so I stayed.It was my first day on set when I realized, “This is what I want to do!”
I came to Hong Kong in 2001, and since then I’ve done 20-something films. It’s not a lot. I think I’m very lucky because I really love what I do: Being a wife, a mother, an actress, and my first time curating—I love it all.
My background is a bit complicated: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada. I think we’re all global citizens now. Today I’m in Hong Kong; tomorrow I might be in France; the next day somewhere in Africa. I never imagined I would have the chance to visit so many places.
My sense of belonging comes from home. I follow my husband and my two daughters, and wherever they are, that’s home.
Art has always been something of an interest. I stayed in India for half a month to learn indigo dyeing; I weave my own fabric; I do ceramics; I released a Polaroid book in 2010; I hand-made 200 books dedicated to Le Corbusier with Zuni Icosahedron. So I’d say art has been an important part of my life.
