<strong>Meet 'Frog King': </strong>Kwok Mang Ho -- aka "Frog King" -- is easily Hong Kong's most recognizable artist.
Meet 'Frog King': Kwok Mang Ho -- aka "Frog King" -- is easily Hong Kong's most recognizable artist.
CNN
<strong>Life body installation: </strong>He's perhaps most famous for his over-the-top costume, which is an ongoing "Live Body Installation." Frog King wears layers of black and white clothing, an abundance of DIY accessories, a white wig, and a sky-high hat containing a rotating light box.
Life body installation: He's perhaps most famous for his over-the-top costume, which is an ongoing "Live Body Installation." Frog King wears layers of black and white clothing, an abundance of DIY accessories, a white wig, and a sky-high hat containing a rotating light box.
CNN
<strong>More than a costume: </strong>Throughout his 50-year career,<strong> </strong>Kwok has been a pioneer of contemporary art in Asia. In 1979, for example, Kwok became the first performance artist in China with "Plastic Bag Happenings." In this series of art installations, he metaphorically collected people's anxiety and fears into plastic bags and tied them up them around Tiananmen Square and The Great Wall.
More than a costume: Throughout his 50-year career, Kwok has been a pioneer of contemporary art in Asia. In 1979, for example, Kwok became the first performance artist in China with "Plastic Bag Happenings." In this series of art installations, he metaphorically collected people's anxiety and fears into plastic bags and tied them up them around Tiananmen Square and The Great Wall.
CNN
<strong>Ink and fire: </strong>Traditionally trained in ink under the famous New Ink Movement master Lui Shou-kwan, Kwok quickly broke from tradition and started making art from non-conventional materials. Ink and fire are two of the elements he often plays with.
Ink and fire: Traditionally trained in ink under the famous New Ink Movement master Lui Shou-kwan, Kwok quickly broke from tradition and started making art from non-conventional materials. Ink and fire are two of the elements he often plays with.
CNN
<strong>Village life: </strong>Day to day, you'll find Kwok working in his studio at Cattle Depot. Formerly a century-old slaughterhouse, the complex reopened in 2001 as an artists' village, housing studios and galleries for about a dozen different creative parties.
Village life: Day to day, you'll find Kwok working in his studio at Cattle Depot. Formerly a century-old slaughterhouse, the complex reopened in 2001 as an artists' village, housing studios and galleries for about a dozen different creative parties.
CNN
<strong>Beauty in the mundane: </strong>Kwok's studio is crammed with thousands of everyday objects -- or "community heritage" as Kwok describes it -- that were gifts from his neighbors.
Beauty in the mundane: Kwok's studio is crammed with thousands of everyday objects -- or "community heritage" as Kwok describes it -- that were gifts from his neighbors.
CNN
<strong>The little things:</strong> Cultural heritage "is the things people don't pay attention to. It can be garbage, it can be treasure," Kwok tells CNN Travel.
The little things: Cultural heritage "is the things people don't pay attention to. It can be garbage, it can be treasure," Kwok tells CNN Travel.
CNN
<strong>Art for all: </strong>"Opening Cattle Depot as an art village for the public has helped promote community art, as it lowers the barrier for the public to enjoy and interact with art," Wong Wing Tong, Kwok's former assistant who now runs PlayDepot art space, tells CNN Travel.
Art for all: "Opening Cattle Depot as an art village for the public has helped promote community art, as it lowers the barrier for the public to enjoy and interact with art," Wong Wing Tong, Kwok's former assistant who now runs PlayDepot art space, tells CNN Travel.
CNN
<strong>A froggy day:</strong> "Frog King always invites visitors to wear his 'froggy sunglasses' and he places a lot of artworks around Cattle Depot for the public to see and touch," says Wong.
A froggy day: "Frog King always invites visitors to wear his 'froggy sunglasses' and he places a lot of artworks around Cattle Depot for the public to see and touch," says Wong.
CNN
<strong>Art should be classless: </strong>"My work is often free -- I like giving out my work," says Kwok. "I think art isn't just for rich people. Sharing my work is a direct way to pass down culture. Art should be classless."
Art should be classless: "My work is often free -- I like giving out my work," says Kwok. "I think art isn't just for rich people. Sharing my work is a direct way to pass down culture. Art should be classless."
CNN