Once a defining feature of Hong Kong’s streets, neon signs lit up everything from tea restaurants to pharmacies, creating a visual language unique to the city. As many of these signs have disappeared, they now live on through memory.

Memories of a Neon City is a collaborative art session inviting Hong Kongers artists in Vancouver to explore Hong Kong’s visual culture through drawing and painting. Inspired by the city’s iconic neon signage, they reflected on themes of nostalgia, urban identity and cultural memory. 

Using a structured draw and switch format, the participating artists build on each other’s work across a shared canvas, creating layered pieces that capture the collective nature of memory and storytelling.

曾經，霓虹招牌係香港嘅標誌，遍佈大小街道嘅衣食住行各式商舖，以光影營造出別樹一幟嘅街貌。當一個又一個嘅特色招牌被拆除，經典畫面就只可以留喺我哋嘅回憶入面。

「霓城回憶」係一班喺溫哥華嘅港人藝術家嘅集體創作，由我城嘅霓虹招牌出發，以顏料同畫具呈現香港嘅獨特一面，透視對往昔嘅懷緬、對都市形象嘅解讀同埋為舊日文化影象嘅憶記。

呢幅集體創作除咗包含各個藝術單位嘅風格外，亦有交疊嘅複式創作，糅合不同層次嘅述說同追憶。

About the artists 關於藝術單位

Harvey Chan was born in Hong Kong. After graduating from the Ontario College of Art ( now OCAD) in Toronto, he established his career as a professional illustrator before expanding his practice into art education. Over the years, Harvey has created numerous designs for the Royal Canadian Mint, including two series of Chinese Zodiac coin designs.

His acclaimed work in children’s book illustration has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including being shortlisted for the Governor General’s Literary Awards for Ghost Train by Paul Yee. Harvey has also shared his expertise as an educator at his alma mater, OCAD University, as well as at Sheridan College and the Toronto School of Art.

In 2011, Harvey returned to Hong Kong and founded Art For Life Studio, his own studio and art school. During this period, he developed his expressive human portrait series, Speaking Faces, which explored the emotional complexity and silent narratives embedded within human expression.

Now based in Vancouver, Harvey continues to expand his personal and commissioned artistic practice while teaching at both private and public art institutions.

Harvey Chan 出生於香港。佢喺多倫多嘅安大略藝術學院（Ontario College of Art，現稱 OCAD University）畢業後，以專業插畫師身份展開事業，其後逐步將創作範疇拓展至藝術教育領域。多年嚟，Harvey 曾為加拿大皇家鑄幣廠創作多款設計作品，包括兩套十二生肖紀念幣系列。

佢喺兒童書插畫方面亦屢獲肯定，曾獲多個獎項及提名，包括為 Paul Yee 所著《Ghost Train》一書繪製插畫，並入圍加拿大總督文學獎（Governor General’s Literary Awards）。

Harvey 亦曾於母校 OCAD University，以及 Sheridan College 同 Toronto School of Art 任教，分享佢嘅專業經驗同創作心得。

2011年，Harvey 返回香港，創立個人工作室及藝術學校 Art For Life Studio。期間佢創作出一系列以人像為主嘅創作《Speaking Faces》，透過細膩嘅人物表情，探索情感嘅複雜性同沉默背後嘅故事。

現時 Harvey 定居溫哥華，繼續發展個人及委約創作，同時亦喺私人及公營藝術機構任教。
https://www.instagram.com/harveychanart/

Kiki Lau: I am a creator who paints watercolours, makes Hong Kong-inspired postcards, runs workshops every now and then, and is always drawn to light. I love city walking in Hong Kong — you never know what’s hiding around the corner, and that’s half the fun — taking it slow and letting the city surprise me. 

This was my first time trying acrylics and abstract painting in a large-scale Art Jamming — turns out, it was a lot of fun. And somewhere in the process, I couldn’t help but wonder what it felt like to walk Hong Kong’s streets back in the 70s and 80s, when neon was everywhere. 

我係一個以水彩為日常、創作香港系列明信片、偶爾舉辦工作坊、鍾意捕捉光嘅創作人。熱愛喺香港city walk（轉個街角又有啲新奇嘢睇，好鬼過癮），用緩慢嘅步伐感受城 市嘅魅力同埋細節。 

今次係我第一次以塑膠彩同抽象畫風挑戰大型 Art Jamming——幾好玩，同幾意外！諗 諗吓，好想穿越返去七八十年代，親身感受霓虹燈嘅輝煌年代。

https://www.instagram.com/kae.k_a_e/

Ravin Wong is a graphic designer / illustration artist currently based in Vancouver BC, with creative roots in Melbourne and Tasmania, Australia. His work blends clean design and hand drawn elements, shaped by skills developed since his childhood. He creates bold, straightforward visuals with a strong focus on clarity and personal expression.

Ravin Wong 係一位現居於卑詩省溫哥華嘅平面設計師同插畫藝術家，佢嘅創作根源來自澳洲墨爾本及塔斯曼尼亞。佢自細培養出嚟嘅創作功底，令佢嘅作品融合簡潔設計同手繪元素，呈現出大膽而鮮明直接嘅視覺效果，並著重畫面嘅清晰度同展現個人風格。

https://www.instagram.com/arrdeeaii/

Rebecca Lau is an emerging multidisciplinary artist currently based in Vancouver. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she is a graduate of Emily Carr University of Art + Design. 

Rebecca’s early practice was deeply informed by the political and social uncertainties of Hong Kong and the global landscape, with works that explored and reflected upon the struggles of the individual amidst systemic turbulence. Following her relocation and subsequent experience of displacement, her creative focus has shifted toward the pursuit of "pure happiness." 

Having grown up under rigid social structures and norms, Rebecca now navigates life in a foreign land, using her work to re-examine the inherent tensions between the individual and the institution. Her recent projects seek to clear the fog of social labelling and identity fragmentation. Through various mediums, she strives to uncover an original, unadulterated joy that transcends borders and conventions—a happiness that belongs solely to the inner self.

Rebecca Lau 是一位目前定居於溫哥華的跨領域新銳藝術家。她成長於香港，並畢業於 Emily Carr University of Art + Design。Rebecca 的早期創作深受香港與全球政治及社會不確定性的啟發，作品多在探索與反思個體在動盪下的掙扎。然而，隨著身分的轉變與移民的流徙經驗，她的創作重心逐漸轉向對「純粹快樂」的追求。作為一名在特定社會結構與規範下成長、如今身處異地的移民藝術家，Rebecca透過創作重新審視個體與體制之間的張力。她的近期作品試圖撥開社會標籤與身分流離的迷霧，在不同的媒介中，尋找一種跨越國界與規範、屬於個體內心最原始且純粹的喜悅。

https://www.instagram.com/mini_me_ll/

Yuk, Hong Kong freelance illustrator based in Vancouver, creating gentle illustrations, capturing everyday emotions and offering live caricature.

旭，來自香港、現居溫哥華的自由插畫師，以柔和風格記錄日常情感與故事，創作插畫及現場似顏繪。

https://www.instagram.com/yuk.illust/