In an era where everyone holds a smartphone, taking photos has become an easy task. We use photos to record the moments of life, gatherings with friends, photos with partners, or our own changes… Phones can easily capture these moments of light and fleeting portraits. However, Chow Ciao Chow chooses to use a brush to hold memories. He particularly loves painting portraits and, through bold and colorful strokes, includes various faces from the city in his creations. In his characters, regardless of gender, everyone has features that do not conform to reality: red cheeks, blue noses, green eyebrows… Adorned with heavy “makeup,” these portraits are brimming with vibrant vitality, becoming a memorable splash of color.
Chow Ciao Chow is a young artist from Hong Kong who used to work in the fashion design industry. However, he later realized that he did not want to be tied down by the busy life of office workers. In 2014, he chose to start an experimental space called MUM’s NOT HOME with friends, and unintentionally began his journey as a full-time artist. What may seem like a small space to others is actually a place where he can unleash his unlimited creativity. Here, he has cut hair for others, created DIY products, tried his hand at sewing and altering clothes, and eventually founded his own brand, starting to design his own product lines.
Over the years, Chow has grown together with this space. The personal identity and creative style that were not clearly defined in the past have become more certain today, 8 years later. Now, MUM’s NOT HOME has transformed into a coffee shop and his painting studio. When guests come, he is responsible for serving tea, and in his free time, he paints here. Chow shared in the interview, “Without MUM’s NOT HOME, I might not be who I am today. I am really happy here.”
MUM’s NOT HOME What hidden magic of happiness is behind Chow’s brilliant style and leisurely joyful life? In this episode of “Art City Travelogue,” we visit local artist Chow Ciao Chow at MUM’s NOT HOME, letting him personally explain to us how his philosophy of happiness influences his creations.
“My portraits are colorful, actually very influenced by here, because I am really happy here.”
The artist conveys emotions through colors. In Chow’s vibrant paintings, there is a genuine and joyful temperament that stems from the artist’s inner self, although he did not initially present himself with such rich colors. Looking back at his work as a fashion designer, the sketches were all dark. Later, while working at MUM’s NOT HOME, he began to feel a sense of freedom that he had never experienced before, so he expressed this heightened emotion and vitality through colors.
He laughed and said, “At first, I painted in monochrome, only adding one or two colors, I wasn’t that bold before. Later, I found that using two colors was not enough for me, so I wanted to add a lot of things into it.” At the same time, when he discovered the different possibilities of painting, Chow realized that painting portraits did not necessarily need to pursue realism, as long as he captured the essence of the features and eyes of the characters, embellished with personal style, the work would be more appreciable. Later, gaining confidence from the encouragement of customers, he continued to layer colors, becoming the iconic “rainbow style” he is known for today.
Chow believes that rich and bright colors give him a lot of power. He said, “When I immerse myself in the space of MUM’s NOT HOME, you will see many colors. If my paintings are not stronger than this space, they will not stand out. Therefore, I want to paint colors that are more prominent than this space.” Over the years, Chow has mastered the use of color blocks, adding rich visual layers to his works. The bright and eye-catching composition conveys the personality of the characters and also makes people feel the creator’s surging creativity.
“MUM’s NOT HOME is a safe zone.”
In the alley of Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei, we saw a striking poster of MUM’s NOT HOME from one of the old tenement buildings at a glance. Walking up the narrow stairs, there are graffiti by Chow on the walls. I remember the first time I visited this small shop, it actually felt more like walking into someone’s home. Every corner here is filled with colorful decorations and artworks, with various quirky retro items, vintage clothes, and the brand’s own accessories displayed in the corner near the entrance, where Chow’s painting space is usually located. Although it is a cafe, there are no neatly arranged tables and chairs, and people can choose any seat they like. Inside, there are plants of all sizes, vintage furniture, Chow’s artworks, and various decorations, creating a retro and exquisite feeling, like a mysterious and tranquil backyard.
When work and painting revolve around this exquisite space, we are all curious about what MUM’s NOT HOME is like for Chow.
He said that MUM’s NOT HOME, rather than just a simple cafe, is more like an exhibition space. There are many plants and flowers arranged around here, creating a relaxed atmosphere, complementing the displayed artworks. He said, “There are many things here for you to get to know me first, and then look at the artworks. You don’t need me to explain too much, you can also feel a lot.” This place not only provides a immersive viewing space for Chow’s works, but also becomes a driving force for him to continue creating.
He said, “MUM’s NOT HOME is a safe haven because this place belongs to me. I feel like I can do anything without fear of criticism. If I were to put my paintings elsewhere, it would feel like I’m trying to please others. But putting them here makes me happy, and I become bolder. Here, I feel like anything is possible.” It is because of this intimate creative space that he can paint without restrictions, and this freedom supports him in expressing his joyful inspiration more boldly.
However, for the guests who come here, what does he hope others can feel here?
Chow feels that this space is separate from the outside world, regardless of the environment, human relationships, or atmosphere. He hopes that visitors can detach themselves from reality. MUM’s NOT HOME is located above an old tenement building in the old district, surrounded by noisy streets and small shops selling groceries, a far cry from the colorful cafes. To amplify this difference, Chow even shared with us that he intentionally designed the entrance to be a small arched shape. Those who enter must bend down slightly, as if they were devout visitors. However, this is not a magnificent palace, but a colorful paradise full of joy. Chow said, “I really want people to be amazed when they come in. I want to show them how unreal it is here, and this unreality is actually real.”
Chow What is referred to in the mouth is not unreal, not referring to unrealistic romantic fantasies, but rather the ability for everyone to focus on the leisurely moments of the present, casually drinking tea, eating cake, and experiencing the joy of being surrounded by colorful paintings.
While guests are busy enjoying a leisurely moment, Chow is also happy to deliver drinks and food. When he has some free time, he will return to his seat to draw. Some people pursue a quiet creative space, but the energetic Chow prefers to be surrounded by activity. He said, “I really like being surrounded by people, as long as they are near me. I can’t paint in a too quiet environment.”
Whether on social media or in real life encounters with Chow, he exudes a joyful atmosphere. When asked in which scenario he is happiest, he jokingly likened himself to a clingy puppy who can’t help but be happy when around people. Because the focus is on “people,” portraits naturally became his enduring creative theme.
“I hope everyone can appreciate themselves.”
Starting from drawing portraits for people on Instagram, Chow admitted that his initial portrait drawings were meant to please others. Saying that, he took out a thick sketchbook containing 100 portrait works he had drawn. Initially just wanting to draw, over time, he accumulated skills in composition and color usage. After spending two years, these 100 pieces of artwork formed his first portrait drawing book. As Chow shared and flipped through the pages of the book, he recalled each face, along with the traces these people had left in his life. He said, “These portraits are significant to me, and they have pushed me onto the path of artistic creation. Initially without any motive, drawing was just a very pure thing, but later, spurred on by the people in the portraits, I slowly accepted my identity as an artist.”
When you focus on something, all the effort you put in will pay off. The “C.C.C. Commission Portrait” series is still one of his main creations. Although this series seems to be painting other people’s faces, lacking room for creativity, for Chow, he highlights the facial features with unique color combinations, even rendering hair color into a unique brilliance, adding a layer of dazzling self-confidence to each face. Even when painting people, he incorporates his own style and energy. He says, “I hope everyone can appreciate themselves.” Rather than basing self-worth on others, he believes it’s better to be a little “self-loving,” discovering everyone’s shining qualities through exaggerated tones.
Later, extending from portraits to the more emotionally emphasized “No More Sorrow Collection” and “Your Sunshine Is Crying,” all carry emotional and humanistic creations. In just one morning of being together, everyone feels Chow’s casual and joyful nature. He will excitedly display the accessories in his hands, dance to reminisce about past experiences, and roll on the ground like a child for us to take photos, showing a carefree appearance. However, no matter how lively and optimistic a person is, there will always be moments of gloom and low spirits. These two series showcase a person’s state of decline. Chow hopes his work can also take care of the unhappy side of himself. He said, “Even the sun is smiling and crying. I like to package some sad things in a happier way, making it easier for everyone to accept.” He continued, “I hope everyone feels that crying is nothing to be ashamed of, and being unhappy is natural. Be honest with yourself and don’t mind showing your sad emotions.”
The sunshine depicted by Chow not only portrays oneself but also reflects every individual. We sometimes shine brightly, illuminating others, and occasionally feel dim and gloomy, which is all part of the natural emotional cycle. But let’s not forget that each of us has a luminous essence like the sun.
“I believe in happy-go-lucky.”
In a high-pressure society, the heavy workload often exhausts people and unknowingly diminishes our passion for life. There was a time when Chow also lived such a busy life. When he used to work for others, everything was about “rushing”, when most of the time was filled with work, the output was more about quantity than quality, which made him feel very painful. It wasn’t until MUM’s NOT HOME opened and started creating that he finally found a rhythm of life that suited him.
He shared, “Being able to do my own thing now makes me feel very free, and there is no work pressure. The reason for no pressure is because Makui takes on most of the work, and I just sit here like a ‘vase’ for people to admire.” Throughout the entire interview, Chow has been generous in sharing his joy. Although jokingly calling himself a “vase,” in reality, only the boss Makui and him are in the store, and a lot of effort is put in by everyone, even tasks like cleaning the restroom are taken care of by him. He shared with us a unique philosophy of happiness, focusing on the good things in life, everywhere is good luck. Instead of being fixated on creating or searching for traces of happiness, it’s better to discover the existing beauty. Creating art out of happiness, and spreading positive energy through colorful works, influencing those around you, is actually a valuable positive cycle.
“Take boring things seriously, and they will grow.”
Chow said that he is currently “seriously doing boring things.” He believes that in order to create, one must first feel bored, which will then provide the motivation to do it. He said, “You see many people doing interesting things, but they are actually ‘seriously doing boring things.’ By persisting, they become artists.” In his eyes, the painting experience he has accumulated along the way has helped him find the direction of his ideal life, everything naturally falls into place, pure happiness.
When asked what kind of creator he thought he was, he almost blurted out “free, casual” without hesitation. Chow admitted that he was not a systematic worker because he simply thought drawing was fun, so he felt more like a free and spontaneous artist rather than a work-style painter.
He smiled bitterly, “Others may think that I am not taking my career seriously, but I feel that the current me can feel such a free way of creating, so let’s enjoy it for now.” For him, painting is no longer about “delivering on time,” but a way to respond to the world and to express his inner self, not to be constrained by other thoughts. Even if he cannot meet the expectations of the outside world for a “professional painter,” he is indifferent, because he has always painted for himself. He said, “I think the reason why these works look so interesting is because I can be so free. If you want to live like this, you have to not care so much about money. When it comes to salary, we can’t offer you the same as what you can earn outside, but what you earn here is something you can’t get from a regular job.”
“I feel very content with the current state, I have no complaints, I am happy with my life now, and my family supports me a lot.”
Consistently, Chow still finds reasons to be happy in every situation. He sincerely says, “I often feel very satisfied. This kind of life is not something that everyone has. I can show everyone that life can be like this, as long as you are willing to let go of this matter, or the usual patterns you have been accustomed to, nothing is impossible.”
Looking at the various sizes of paintings hanging in this space, whether it’s a smiling face or tears flowing, every emotion is sincere. I hope Chow can maintain this purity and simplicity, infecting more people with beautiful colors. In his creative world, we see that beauty does not need to be deliberately piled up, happiness is actually everywhere.
Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Vicky Wai
Editor: Ruby Yiu
Videography: Andy Lee, Angus Chau
Photography: Andy Lee, Angus Chau
Video Editor: Andy Lee
Designer: Edwina Chan
Location: MUM’s NOT HOME
Special Thanks: Chow Ciao Chow
