Alex King: After Rain Comes the Rainbow

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Every day, after finishing my study at the university, I would walk along a long pathway before reaching home. I couldn’t help but wonder why there were so many trash bags strewn across the street, seemingly untouched for a long time. This wasn’t an isolated occurrence; he noticed it happening frequently in the same location during the pandemic. Intrigued, I began documenting these scenes and started to imagine the positive aspects of the city’s waste, hoping to find happiness and tranquility amidst the chaos. I firmly believed that “After Rain Comes The Rainbow.”

This collection consists of seven pieces depicting the city’s trash problem during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Over the years, I had witnessed a significant amount of trash bags dumped on the main street. One day, I imagined these trash bags transforming into a cluster of balloons, slowly floating up in the air, only to collapse and melt into a liquid state at eye level. Each day seemed to bring no significant change – “Good Morning” was no different from “Good Night.” Despite the unfavorable circumstances, I tried to embrace them and would tell myself, “Don’t Worry. Be Happy,” with the hope that “After Rain Comes The Rainbow.”

My painting style and sketching technique are unique. I used acrylic markers and hand- painted each artwork slowly to preserve the brush strokes visible on the canvas. The composition of the paintings was carefully considered to create a dynamic and moving effect with the balloons. My color palette, consisting of 30 vibrant, fluorescent, and lively colors, reflects my imaginative vision.

In addition to the trash bags, I also observed various obstacles along the street on a typical day, which I found to be unusual and surreal. I believed that everything we can imagine has a reality to it. I spent a few months conducting observations, interviews, and photo shoots to ensure the accuracy of the patterns depicted in my artwork. I then began the drafting process, relying on my instinct and memory.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Dr. King is a highly experienced product designer who has worked extensively in Hong Kong and Shanghai in the field of product design and universal design. He holds a Ph.D. in Design from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and specializes in participatory design research, universal design, inclusive design, elderly living alone, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. Over the past decade, Dr. King has been recognized with numerous international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award, iF Design Award, Hong Kong Awards for Industries: Consumer Product Design, Hong Kong Smart Design Award, and Hong Kong Print Awards. In 2017, he was awarded as a designer in the New Business Ideas Incubation Programme by New World Development.

In addition to his design work, Dr. King also teaches bachelor courses at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Open University of Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council. He holds important positions in various design organizations, including being the director of the award and exhibition council of the Hong Kong Designers Association, honorary secretary of the Graphic Arts Association of Hong Kong, and associate director in the 31st Hong Kong Print Awards. Furthermore, Dr. King is the Co-Founder of AlexKingAtelier (www.alexkingatelier.com), dedicated to promoting lifestyle design and providing opportunities for the younger generation to learn about universal design and observational research studies. Through this initiative, he aims to bridge the gap between design research and practice.