Happy 2012

My 1st sketch of 2012 at Awfully Chocolate.

Villian Hitting (打小人) @ Causewaybay

Villain hitting (打小人) or demon exorcising is a folk sorcery popular in the Guangdong area of China and Hong Kong. You can say its asian witchcraft with voodo dolls. Its purpose is to curse one's enemies using magic. Villain hitting is often considered a humble career, and the ceremony is often performed by older ladies.

If the client request to hit a specific villain, then write down or put the name, date of birth, photo or clothings of the specific villain on the villain paper.

The Villian hitters will make use of a varieties of symbolic object such as the shoe of clients or the villain hitter or other religious symbolic weapon like incense sticks to hit or hurt the villain paper. You can always hear the hitters yelling out curses as they hit the paper doll.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7esFaeqRXSc&feature=related

Sunday sketching session @ Sheung Wan

Little street temple off Tank lane (Left) & Ancestry hall at Pound Lane (Right).

Sketching Hong Kong (Central / SOHO)

TANK LANE

This little lane takes you down to the famous antique filled Upper Lascar Row (also known as "Cat Street"). You can find lots of curios and vintage items at the many crammed antique shops and open air-curio market.

BACK LANE @ Central (Name of this lane not found on the map....)

I chanced upon an english lady and her young son sketching at this very spot. They are fairly new to HK and very excited to sketch more of HK. I sketched this while chatting with her and it was a wonderful end to my sketching session today.

Tung Street, Hong Kong

Day Trip to Tai O, HongKong

Stilt Houses @ Tai O fishing Village

I would like to share an interesting place I visited 2 weekends ago here in HongKong. You may find some similarities with houses from other parts of southeast asia.

Despite a nearly 90mins train, ferry and bus journey to get to Tai O, I had a great time exploring the old fishing village. Verifiable human settlement history here is about three centuries old. It is amazing to still see houses on stilts and built on the river. They are mostly built out of thin sheets of metal and wood, materials relatively cheap and light. Some of the villagers are still actively fishing and selling different kinds of dried seafood to visiting tourists. I will definitely go back again for more sketching.

Back @ Peel Street, HK

Back @ Peel Street, HK, originally uploaded by PaulArtSG.

Peel Street, HongKong

Sketching in Siem Reap, Cambodia

The last 4 days here in Siem Reap Cambodia has been just awesome. Often I feel like Indiana Jones when I am temple exploring and temple hopping. There are so much to see and sketch. Every turn you see a 1000 year old architecture filled with intricate carvings. More updates to come when I fly to Phnom Penh tomorrow. Oh before I forget, let me wish all my friends a very HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!

Sketching Peel Street on a cold morning, HK

My hands were frozen stiff from sitting out in the cold for an hour sketching this street scene. The street was generally quieter than usual. Everyone must have been hiding indoors.

Central Police station @ Victoria Prison, HK

Central Police Station located at the eastern end of Hollywood Road, in Central, Hong Kong, is awaiting development following its decommissioning. Built between 1864-1919, the Central Police Station is one of the last physical reminders of Hong Kong's colonial heritage With its long history and antiquated architectural style.

The police station and prison are now open to the public for 2 weeks with exciting art & design exhibition and thereafter waiting for redevelopment.

It was fun sketching in the old prison. Each tiny cell still has a double decked bed. Not very much space to move around. No wonder people go crazy and turns violence in such a small environment.

Day out @ Cheung Chau island, HK

Spent my saturday afternoon visiting the very quaint Cheung Chau island south west of HK island. Fishing is still one of the main livelihood of the islanders. Here there are no cars but just bicycles & tricycles for getting around. Life feels generally slower too. I like the fresh air too.

Tai Po Rail Museum, HK