Artist Peter Chan was born in 1985 in Hong Kong where he spent his childhood. He currently lives in Toronto, Canada, but Hong Kong remains dear to his heart and art. Chan likes to explore popular, cultural and urban themes from Hong Kong, drawing his inspiration from his life as well as iconic Hong Kong movies.

His latest works are now exhibited at Woaw Gallery in the group show Imagined States – Chapter 1 – Extrinsicality until 17 January 2024. On this occasion, we had the chance to talk about his personal and artistic journey, his creative process and his deep connection with Hong Kong.

Peter Chan

Chan’s artistic journey started at a very young age. “In childhood, I started making art by pausing a frame on the TV and drawing what I was seeing on the screen. I have always been obsessed with painting because I enjoy working with colours. I find painting extremely meditating. I made my first painting when I was in high school”, he recalls.

When living in Hong Kong, Chan was watching a lot of Hong Kong, Japanese, and Korean soap operas, animation, and films in the late 80s and early 90s. Having parents working in very demanding jobs, he spent a lot of time watching the TV, playing video games, collecting stamps and trading cards with his friends. All of these childhood memories have shaped him and influenced his art practice. Moving to Canada allowed him to experience both East and West traditions and brought new perspectives.

Peter Chan, Origins

When he was in high school, Chan was using acrylics as his first medium. He eventually switched to oil paints in art college and sticked to this favourite medium until now.

Chan draws his inspiration from his daily life and experiences, always paying great attention to what he sees and discovers. “This can be time, location, inanimate objects, people, and how they belong or don’t belong in various situations”, he explains.

The artist likes to take a lot of photos, about anything he finds interesting or intriguing, and uses this pictures as reference for his creative ideas. “Once I have an idea or a direction, then I can begin sketching, compositing and then finally painting on the canvas”, Chan says.

This attention to details is reflected in the realism of his paintings and the focus he is often drawing on specific features of a person or an object.

Peter Chan, Evening Search

For him, the most challenging part of the creative process is coming up with what image he wants to make. Quite often he is searching for alignments, finding things that don’t usually belong together and yet highlighting a connection.

While consistant in his artworks, his artistic style evolves along his own personal evolution in life. “I think the biggest and most major change came from the moment I accepted myself, which means embracing my strengths and weaknesses as a person”, Chan confides.

Being curious, asking questions and allowing for patience in life are his main qualities, helping him to turn his thoughts into imageries. “Currently, I am interested in the idea of chance and what we perceive as coincidences. I enjoy discovering and attempting to see through the eyes of a child, questioning everything on my path”, he adds.

Peter Chan, To Play Pretend

Alongside his personal experience in life, Chan’s great influence has been the history of art: “I think about artistic influences like a mood board. My artistic influences are quite diverse, spanning artists including painters, sculptors, musicians, and filmmakers.”

Influenced by his childhood in Hong Kong, Chan often explores critical themes of East Asia, especially superstition, identity, popular culture, traditions, social practices from urban and traditional Hong Kong and Chinese culture.

In his artworks, he is trying to establish an autobiographical connection with the viewers through realism and intricate technical execution, as well as familiar visual narratives, such as scenes from iconic Hong Kong movies. His aim is to enable the viewers to realise how popular culture influences our understanding of urban living and perception of social identity.

Peter Chan, Study of Anticipation 2

Being exhibited in Hong Kong has obviously a particular meaning for the artist who choose two artworks inspired by Asian soap operas.

“There is something very fulfilling to exhibit in the first city I called home. The featured artworks are depicting moments of anticipation which may be familiar to many of us. I was thinking about the close ups in many Asian soap operas which often depict quiet moments of romance, while juxtaposing this with colours and hues that may communicate a sense of mystery and longing”, Chan concludes.

Imagined States – Chapter 1 – Extrinsicality at Woaw Gallery Wanchai until 17 January 2024