Shui Wai Chong (1986)

When Sieuw Wai started at Herenplaats, he was mainly concerned with filling surfaces in an abstract manner. With colored pencil he tickled and condensed the white paper until it was completely filled. There was no representation. Later he took his own self-image as a starting point: what do I look like? He asks this question every day. This led to drawing ideal people, celebrities, movie stars, manga characters who all agree on the same thing: a beautiful appearance. His drawings are populated by Enrique Iglesias, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp, Hacken Lee and Raymond Lam. But actually the drawings are about himself, about how he thinks about dark types, psychopaths, death, imprisonment, bacteria and about ways to cure sick people with a magic serum. By fleeing in the beauty of unattainable people, Sieuw Wai survives in our sometimes cold society.

Text: Julia Dotulong

A questionnaire completed by sieuw Wai Chong

What is perfect happiness?
Surrender.

What is your biggest fear?
Losing loved ones.

What character trait do you find most annoying in yourself?
Gullibility.

What character trait do you find most annoying in others?
Egoism.

What temptation can you not resist?
My love’s cheeks, they cry out to be kissed!

What is your favorite trip?
Russia, Scotland, India,…

What part of your appearance are you least satisfied with?
My crooked little legs.

What do you regret most?
Regret is a waste of time.

When and where were you happiest?
The day before yesterday at dinner.

What is your current state of mind?
Confused with a touch of hope and curiosity.

You can change one thing about yourself. What would that be?
Less worrying and more perspective.