Hong Kong Illustrator Carrie Chau

You’ve no doubt seen local illustrator Carrie Chau’s big-headed melancholic characters around town on umbrellas, alarm clocks, postcards, handbags, and well, practically everywhere.

I just want to eat, sleep and draw.

Like many people born in the 70s and 80s, my childhood was so dull that the only excitement I had was in violating minor school rules, like wearing hairspray or reading tabloids in school.

Later on, I went to the UK to complete my studies. My real education was in skipping school and learning that it is really important to get out of Hong Kong.

A teacher told me to forget about university since I wasn’t a good student. I mailed my portfolio to the Polytechnic University and got in anyway. Teachers, what do they know?

When I graduated, the word “illustrator” was as vague as the word “artist.” No one knew exactly what it meant.

Sometimes, I wonder how kids in other families are raised. I’m talking about the kids who cope so well with social expectations – getting a job in a bank after graduation, getting married in their late 20s and getting a mortgage in their 30s.

I was staying home, mailing out portfolios. That was a lot of work, albeit wasted. Running out of money, I got a job as a “merchandizing assistant” – a good experience because I learned I was not suitable for any job out there.

Throughout my life I have been a flying blind, stumbling into one opportunity after another. If I could do it again, I would have set some goals.

Life is about doing what you don’t like so that you can do what you like later on.

Growing up is about being true to your nature. Only immature people pretend they are someone they're not and think it's cool.

When there is a crisis, there is an opportunity. And then there is another crisis.

During Sars, the rent went down so much that my friends decided to start the lifestyle store, “Homeless” and I created my series of products there. But then the rent went back up – business, an endless cycle of problem-solving.

I am not very motivated to make it big. There are some people who keep asking me to venture overseas but I turn them down. Being famous is too complicated.

There are no upper hands or lower hands in relationships, I believe, like many other upper hands do.

It is an illusion that the younger generation seems to be worse than the previous one. When you start thinking that, it just means you are getting old.

Some people despise commercialized art but I am cool with money. I like seeing my work printed on umbrellas, handbags and postcards – the more, the better.

Being yourself is a big enough problem in our society.

People don’t care whether your smile is genuine or not. They just want a big fat smile constantly worn on everyone’s face.

My wish – to be happy and keep everything as simple as possible.

(By Jan Leung | published Oct 04, 2007 http://hk.asia-city.com/events/article/carrie-chau)