Hong Kong student’s art highlights struggle to survive amid city’s social issues
Chung Ho-ching, who was one of 10 winners of Grantham Visual Arts Awards, hopes her installation can spark discussion on society’s problems
“Struggle for Existence” by Chung Ho-ching. Photo: HandoutEvery week, Talking Points gives you a worksheet to practise your reading comprehension with exercises about the story we’ve written
Hong Kong student Chung Ho-ching pictures her city as a cage with three levels. At the top is an arena for the elite. Young people are trapped in the middle. The poorest are at the bottom, living in cage homes or on the streets.
This image is part of Chung’s art piece, Struggle for Existence. It captures how people feel trapped in the fight to survive in Hong Kong’s competitive society.
The 18-year-old used newspaper headlines to highlight the city’s key issues: university entrance exams, low wages, stress and a declining birth rate.
“My goal was to reflect how Hong Kong people feel trapped by these problems,” said Chung, who is one of 10 winners of this year’s Grantham Visual Arts Awards.
Chung said she used caged birds to represent how people’s goals are limited: “They are flying, but their movements are restricted by the cages they carry.”
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Artistic vision
Chung’s artwork is inspired by the Hong Kong reality show Rich Mate Poor Mate Series. The artist, who is studying at Hong Kong Baptist University, remembered watching a politician experience life as a street cleaner.
“It made me think about the countless people in Hong Kong who work tirelessly yet struggle to make ends meet,” she said. “Seeing how hard my parents work to support us also inspired me to use this piece to delve into the systemic issues plaguing our society.”
Chung spent six months making her artwork, using delicate aluminium wire. Each part required precision, as even a tiny mistake could affect the entire structure. The complex wirework reflects the stress felt by many young people in Hong Kong.
“The lighting highlights the sense of being trapped, casting shadows to create a sense of depth,” she added.
She noted the pressure students face during the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam. “The pressure to excel is immense ... If you don’t do well, you start to question your future, and that stress is overwhelming,” she said.
The anxiety of this exam is shown in Chung’s art. “The upper layers symbolise the ... goals that can often feel unattainable,” she said.
The role of art
Chung hopes her artwork will inspire more conversations about the city’s issues.
“I wanted this piece to encourage people to pause, reflect on their own lives and empathise with the struggles others face,” she said.
Despite the challenges of pursuing art as a career, Chung feels it is worth her efforts.
“There’s a widespread misconception that art doesn’t lead to stable careers,” she said. “But I believe every subject holds value and contributes to society in [their] own unique way.”
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Alex Wu Wing-tak is the president of the Hong Kong Society for Education in Art, which is the sponsor of the Grantham Visual Arts Awards. Wu emphasised how art could transform how students express themselves.
“It allows students to explore their identities, regulate emotions and maintain mental well-being. Viewing and creating art helps them understand themselves better and communicate their feelings,” he said.
“[Art is] a vital tool for communication, expression and driving social progress,” Wu added.
The works of the Grantham Visual Arts Awards winners will be featured at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Education Festival (HKVAEF) from December 18 to 25.
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