Sam Tse

Sam Tse was born in Hong Kong, is a comics artist and illustrator. In 1990, he started his career in the Hong Kong comics industry for nearly 30 years. He presented his first comics publication as a comics writer-editor in 2013. His realistic and detailed drawing style, as well as his storytelling full of dramatic tension, raised attention in the comics industry. He is widely recognised for creating zombie-themed, horror, science -fiction and action comic publications. In 2016, he had his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong, followed by various local and overseas exhibitions, as well as collaborating projects about movies, fiction, car etc. In 2017, when he was participating in an exhibition and programme for promoting Hong Kong comics at Angoulême International Comics Festival, he met the curator of the Louvre and started being introduced to participate in exhibitions around Europe.

‘Backdate’, is the name of the artwork series in this exhibition, capturing the dense living environment of Hong Kong, especially the cubical public housing estates representing the grassroot. The old-style housing estate design consists of numerous geometric units, like building blocks stacked up to form a barrier, which crisscrosses the city. The adolescents who grew up in such a mechanical environment gradually become more aware of their place and local culture. Young people show their vitality, express their courage and individuality, and pursue their dreams. The artwork presents a dreamlike fusion of the old and the new, where the universe of imagination knows no bounds. It explores how stroke by stroke, they paint rainbows and express their aspiration for the future.

Source: Artspace K