Jason Siu | Artist Feature

Jason Siu has been a major player in the booming Hong Kong Vinyl and Custom Figure scene since its inception. He is considered to be among the triumvirate of artists who have made the scene what it is today, right next to other Hong Kong luminaries Michael Lau and Eric So. Jason has stuck true to his urban-vinyl roots with designs that run the hip-hop gamut, from hardcore gangsta to turntablist freaks while also dipping into other creative and design endeavours. We had the pleasure to meet Jason on first European trip, where he is exhibiting his work in Cologne and Düsseldorf in collaboration with the Vibes stores, and ask him a couple of questions.

Tell us a little about yourself?

My name is Jason Siu, I come from Hong Kong and I speak Cantonese and English.

What did you do before?

I started working as an assistant in a comic firm in Hong Kong. After that I worked in an advertising company and now I work for myself.

Is this your first time in Germany?

Yes, this is my first time Europe. It's quite a big culture shock and I haven't quite gotten used to being here yet. My first impression is that Europeans are very open minded.

How did the collaboration between yourself and Vibes come about?

Coscun called my office in Hong Kong and asked if I as interested in doing an exhibition here in Germany. Of course, I was and now I am here.

What and who are your biggest influences?

I have a lot of different influences in my art. It started off early when I was still working in comic industry in Hong Kong; there were a lot of talented artist in the early 1990s that really impressed me. Also, comic book stories about repressed racial and cultural communities really do influence me.

What do you prefer? Figures, comics or illustrations and why?

Definitely drawing. Art as a whole, be it 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional is just a tool for me to express what is going on in my mind. I find drawing, no matter if it is a comic book or an illustration, comes to me quicker than modelling a whole figure series. Sometimes, my drawings then have to become 3 dimensional as they represent what I am thinking better than a drawing.

What's the story behind doing figures?

I started doing figures for the same reason I started drawing. It is an expression of my mind, thoughts and my art.

What do you think the co-relationship is between street art, graffiti, toys and exhibitions?

A lot of artist that work in the comic book industry, advertising or exhibition artist usually come from graffiti or a street art background. It seems to be a natural progression for artists to take, involuntarily most of the time. It is not, however, necessary to come from that background in order to do what I am doing now. It is more about having a concept and then expressing that concept artistically.

There are a lot of musical influences in your work. What are you listening to nowadays?

Mostly older Trip Hop, Massive Attack, Tricky that whole Bristol gang. Music does have a lot of influence on me and my art because music is part of being; it's all part of the One Great Song.

www.jasonsiu.com | www.vibes-store.de
Text und Interview: Steven Vogel