Using watercolors, Portuguese artist Luís Simões has drawn scenes from Hong Kong's pro-democracy Occupy Central protests while witnessing them firsthand.
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
Using watercolors, Portuguese artist Luís Simões has drawn scenes from Hong Kong's pro-democracy Occupy Central protests while witnessing them firsthand.
Luís Simões
"The day after 28th Sunday, the city changed into a silent and tense place," Simões tells CNN. "It was very unexpected to see Hong Kong people in a big demonstration fighting against the police."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
"The day after 28th Sunday, the city changed into a silent and tense place," Simões tells CNN. "It was very unexpected to see Hong Kong people in a big demonstration fighting against the police."
Luís Simões
"The first week I was totally thoughtless, trying to know why they were occupying the streets," recalls Simões. Later, he says, he began to talk to the students, who now know him by name.
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
"The first week I was totally thoughtless, trying to know why they were occupying the streets," recalls Simões. Later, he says, he began to talk to the students, who now know him by name.
Luís Simões
"I compare the protests to what I do," says Simões. It's "a way to freely express my creativity and feelings."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
"I compare the protests to what I do," says Simões. It's "a way to freely express my creativity and feelings."
Luís Simões
"I believe that only a free mind can see more answers for a global problem. This is, for me, what this protests are all about."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
"I believe that only a free mind can see more answers for a global problem. This is, for me, what this protests are all about."
Luís Simões
For Simões, the protests also changed his impression of Hong Kong. "This touched me deeply to realize how much I was wrong about a city that for me was only a money factory and human robots."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
For Simões, the protests also changed his impression of Hong Kong. "This touched me deeply to realize how much I was wrong about a city that for me was only a money factory and human robots."
Luís Simões
"The way I search for a position to sketch requires to take some risks to capture the moment. All this makes the sketch more memorable and lively," says Simões.
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
"The way I search for a position to sketch requires to take some risks to capture the moment. All this makes the sketch more memorable and lively," says Simões.
Luís Simões
Simões says the most touching moment came on September 30, when he saw a huge crowd singing a democracy song while holding their phone lights aloft. "I got emotional, with tears in my eyes," he says.
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
Simões says the most touching moment came on September 30, when he saw a huge crowd singing a democracy song while holding their phone lights aloft. "I got emotional, with tears in my eyes," he says.
Luís Simões
Simões says he enjoys the main protest site in Hong Kong's downtown Admiralty district. "I love Admiralty for the art scene, the hopeful messages and the positive feeling of freedom that everyone is living there."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
Simões says he enjoys the main protest site in Hong Kong's downtown Admiralty district. "I love Admiralty for the art scene, the hopeful messages and the positive feeling of freedom that everyone is living there."
Luís Simões
Simões says he thinks the protests have already achieved their desired outcome: "They got the world's attention for the facts that Hong Kong is facing and pushed the standards higher for future governmental changes."
Artist sketches Hong Kong protests —
Simões says he thinks the protests have already achieved their desired outcome: "They got the world's attention for the facts that Hong Kong is facing and pushed the standards higher for future governmental changes."
Luís Simões