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EVENT DESCRIPTION
In the early 1960s, Wong Chak, whose real name was Wong Ka Hei (1925-2017), used the pen name Wong Chak and drew a four-panel comic strip called “Old Master Q” that was published in Hong Kong newspapers. Later, at the invitation of Mr. Jin Yong from Ming Pao, he added a six-panel comic strip. In 1964, Ng Hing Kee Book & Newspaper Agency published the comic book “Old Master Q and Mr. Chin”. For the past sixty years, the “Old Master Q” comic strip has never stopped and has simultaneously recorded authentic Hong Kong culture.
In 1990, Professor Wong Chak, an architect and artist who held a lifelong teaching position in the Architecture Department at the University of The Art in Philadelphia, decided to establish a comic studio and licensing company in Taiwan when he saw that his father, Wong Ka Hei, was getting older. He nurtured talent in Taiwanese universities while continuing the creation and publication of the “Old Master Q” comic strip, accompanying generations of readers as they grew up.
The mischievous protagonist, “Old Master Q,” has a wide variety of friends. In addition to Big Potato, Mr. Chin, Mr. Chiu, and Miss Chen (his girlfriend), he also has many friends of the opposite sex, as well as pets, monsters, and even aliens. Counting his friends and relatives, there are fifty or sixty of them, forming a vast network!
The supporting characters in the “Old Master Q” comic strip have left a deep impression on readers’ minds. The characters portraying the common people have distinctive appearances and varied personalities. Through Wong Chak’s vivid illustrations, they come to life, from the classic “Bovver Boy” and “Bitch” to the hippies, artists, and fashionable people with exposed shoulders and dazzling fashion. The dialogue and mannerisms of these “supporting characters” are so lifelike, seamlessly complementing Old Master Q and bringing laughter to readers.
There are special articles and discussions on Google and local forums dedicated to studying the comic strip.
“People come in all shapes and colours.” On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Old Master Q, Quiet Gallery HK pays tribute to the supporting characters in Wong Chak’s “Old Master Q” comic strip. Despite their “secondary” roles, these characters are equally brilliant and eye-catching.
As the saying goes, “Life is like a drama, and drama is like life.” This exhibition focuses on the peripheral characters in the “Old Master Q” comic strip, including neighbours, friends, and passers-by of Old Master Q. Although they play different roles and some perform flawlessly while others are comically exaggerated, they all showcase their talents and have become widely recognized classic characters, such as his dog (Wong Dor Li), Bovver Boy, Bitch and etc.
The exhibition will showcase life-size prints of these characters, allowing visitors to appreciate the details of each character’s appearance up close and take photos. Although they may be overlooked by readers in the comic strip, these peripheral characters possess unique personality traits and should be highlighted as one of the highlights of the work. Their presence and contrast enrich the colourful image and body language of Old Master Q, creating a unique reading experience for “Old Master Q” stories.
These characters have made significant contributions to advancing the plot and complementing the main characters. This exhibition aims to reveal the significant influence of peripheral characters on the overall quality and innovative content of the work. Through various forms of artistic expression such as original paintings, bronze works, and illustrations, the exhibition aims to reshape these familiar but never independently showcased characters, allowing the audience to discover and appreciate different characters in the world of Old Master Q from a new perspective.
