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Lee Kwong Tim Jackson
CHINA
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"From the viewers' perspective, my paintings are photorealist, but from my point of view, I'm not focusing on whether they're realistic or not. When I paint, I'm trying to make an impact on others through my dedication to a subject I'm passionate about.”
Two years ago, Jackson Lee was spending a leisurely Sunday with his family at Tai O, a fishing village located on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong; it's a popular weekend destination for city dwellers. He noticed that it is still quite peaceful, and the locals still carry on their traditional crafts of making salted fish and shrimp paste. A footbridge has been built where before the only way across the waterway was by boat. Looking around the beautiful scenery of this proud village, he decided to capture the essence of the village in his artworks before urbanization take over. That's how the journey of Lee's "Hong Kong in a Better Light" series began.
Awakening | Oil
NFS
48 X 36
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Cultural Artifacts - Like other isolated port towns, Tai O has a colorful, albeit checkered, past. Nestled alongside winding river inlets that provide excellent hiding places and protection from harsh weather conditions, Tai O was the base of smuggling and piracy operations up through the early-16th century. In 1729, a fort was built nearby to protect shipping, yet smuggling of guns, tobacco, drugs and people remained a documented illegal activity both into and out of Mainland China.
Fly up High | Oil
NFS
48 X 36
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Now known as the Venice of Hong Kong, Tai O is a hot tourist spot for both foreigners and residents of other parts of Hong Kong. In contrast to aiding the commercialization in which artists unwittingly participate, Lee hopes his paintings can act as an anecdote to the encroaching urbanization threatening Tai O's unique character. By offering a realistic representation of its people, homes and local customs, the paintings provide an accurate record for prosperity and an urgent call to preserve a vanishing culture.
“Before all is lost, I am trying to preserve the culture of a small fishing village which is on the verge of commercialization.”
The artist studied illustration at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a path inspired in part upon first seeing the hyper-realistic and provocative "Robot Girl" series created by Hajime Sorayama— a famous Japanese illustrator. After graduating, Lee began working in the advertising field, first as an art director and later as a creative director. From there he went on to work as an image designer for celebrities, before eventually running his own fashion business in Hong Kong. "In my spare time I painted," he says.
Firm and Secure | Oil
NFS
48 X 36
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Guardian | Oil
NFS
40 X 30
Lee kept painting and around 2014, soon after their weekend visit to Tai O, his wife, Jackie, noticed a change in his paintings. Lee recalls, "she said that they were more mature and poetic than the work she generally saw displayed on the walls of my office. She was impressed by the new work and urged me to paint more. So, I began to focus on my artistic career and about a year and a half later, I had completed the "Hong Kong in a Better Light" series."
"The village is becoming a weekend getaway for city people, and the fishing lifestyle is dying out because it barely provides a subsistence income."
"l was struck by the realization that soon this tranquil place would be lost to urbanization. This filled me with a sense of sadness, but also lit a creative spark within me - If I can capture all these images, I thought, then this will live on forever for others to appreciate, enjoy, and defend."
A Mature Painter's Craft - Lee's formal art training was limited; he considers himself a self-taught artist. "When people noted that my latest paintings were more mature and poetic than the old ones, I believe they were responding to the work's heightened textures and details. These works aren't just capturing a moment in time; they're amplified by emotions and are the direct result of encountering and experiencing the world with open eyes and an open mind," he shares.
Set Sail Again | Acrylic
NFS
30 X 40
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
He prefers to work with heavy-body acrylic paint and has learned to exploit its quick-drying property. "Artists seeking subtle gradations in tone or color struggle with acrylic," Lee notes, "but I'm looking for a high saturation of color which I can achieve quickly by adding successive layers of rich color. My work also involves a lot of detail, which I develop through multiple layers of paint." Lee generally works on a flat surface using a 30x40-inch drawing board placed on a large architect's drafting table. The table surface is large enough to keep his reference photos close by, which he views with magnifying glasses of varying strengths to help his drawing.
Ready To Go | Acrylic
NFS
30 X 40
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
A wide assortment of brushes, multiple water containers for brush cleaning and a ready supply of color-mixing palettes complete his setup. As for his surroundings, Lee says, "My studio is filled with collectibles spanning over 35 years, such as vintage windup toys from China, robots from Japan, vintage perfume bottles, home appliances from the '60s, and more than 300 pairs of antique spectacles. I like listening to music while painting; The Four Seasons is my favorite. Once focused, I can paint for 10 hours in one sitting."
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Rooted in Survival | Oil
NFS
48 X 72
"One of the artists who caught my attention was Ken Danby; his focus was on everyday rural life in Canada. His medium was egg tempera, and I became fascinated with him. This approach, from the subject matter to the technique, began to inspire my paintings."
Never give up | Oil
NFS
40 X 30
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Because the nature of Lee's work requires intense focus, he often was plagued by bouts of fatigue. He now stops working periodically to meditate and finds this practice greatly improves his energy level so he can return to work. Lee adds that for beginning artists, “it's especially important to learn how to maintain a well-balanced life. The novice should not only focus on the drawing board, but also be open to advice from others, build up a social network, and make time for exercise and family. Soon, you'll paint with greater ease than before and be able to see things from a different point of view."
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
Live in Plenty | Acrylic
NFS
40 X 30
According to Lee, "This Hong Kong is slowly disappearing," he says. "Many old buildings have been demolished to make room for the modern skyscraper for the sake of progress. This is happening everywhere—from the countryside to the outer islands as well. For me, painting is what remains of the old Hong Kong is more than just an art project; it's an important mission. It's as much about preserving a way of life as it's about creating beautiful imagery. To inspire a better Hong Kong for the future, I hope to mount a world tour exhibition that will celebrate Hong Kong for its vital spirit and beautiful scenery."
Contentment | Acrylic
NFS
40 X 30
I would like to preserve the legacy of Hong Kong to show its vital spirit through my paintings,
“I wish to continue producing and exhibiting works that shed light on the lesser-known aspects of traditional Hong Kong life. This emotional depth is beyond that which can be communicated with a photograph. Only the brush can create that effect."
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