Hong Kong artist Doris Ng explores vulnerability and disability at M+
Painter and performance artist Doris Ng Toi-yee discusses creating icebreaker moments, intense dreams and living with ADHD

We’re at Ng’s studio in HART Haus in Kennedy Town, where across the space, a mess of large-scale canvases, performance props, clothes and books evoke a sense of play. In her practice, Ng is interested in vulnerability, connection and “icebreaker” moments, what she says are embodied in the pegs she extends towards me.

What’s your first memory of making art?
My earliest memory is of a colouring book that revealed colours with water. It dictated outcomes, leaving little room for creativity. I grew frustrated, brushing so much water that the paper tore. I was five, and my mother bought me many colouring books.
This experience planted the seeds of my desire to embrace spontaneity, push boundaries and challenge controlled frameworks in both life and art.
What’s your daily studio routine?
I wouldn’t call it a routine. It’s more of a pre-studio ritual that sets the tone for my day. I start by exercising vigorously, grab some orange juice and walk up the stairs. Inside, I burn incense and keep the windows open for fresh air and white noise, no matter what the weather’s like.