This is the second time I have come into contact with Endy, compared to the first time, his hair has grown longer, his figure has become slimmer, and when he greets everyone, his face still shows that sincere but somewhat reserved smile.
I first got to know Joe Cheung from “14 Days”, “Mukok”, “Underground Street”, as well as from “Entanglement”, “From Now On, the World Has One More Minute”, “Reykjavik”, or even from Zarahn or the most popular singer-songwriter Gold Award winner. It wasn’t until recent years that I happily discovered that he, on the big screen, is even more hardworking. Approaching 40, he once again challenged his physical limits by starring in “One Second Boxing King”, rightfully winning the “Best Male Lead of the Year Award” from the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild. The only somewhat surprising thing is that Joe Cheung, who used to sit in the corner with a guitar, actually prefers drawing portraits when he picks up a pencil. And, once he starts, he can’t seem to stop.
“Art is a language that communicates more easily than language itself.”
Having been in the industry for 18 years, Chau Kwok-yin’s connection with music seems to show you a certain path of life, starting with a moment of beauty, and then it’s been a journey of ups and downs, sudden clear skies and sudden rain. These experiences not only enrich his creative source, but also bring some inspiration to music fans. Even through a guitar, a tone, he quickly reminds everyone to remember the beauty of life. Life is so wonderful, music chose Chau Kwok-yin, but when you talk to him about the art of painting, there is a sense of hope and leisure in his words, and he might even boldly say, “I’m afraid that if I pick up the paintbrush again, I will forget about music.”
Zhou Guoxian is a singer, but when it comes to painting art and his story, he rarely mentions it; or maybe he just doesn’t know where to start. What kind of relationship did Endy, who studied Fine Art and Design, establish with painting art? How does Endy choose between music and painting? Who is his favorite painter…? Just in time for an important event happening in the art world this November, Christie’s Hong Kong will present its annual autumn auction. This time, ZTYLEZ will join Endy in appreciating the highlights of the autumn auction and engage in a pure creative dialogue.
“I firmly believe that one day I will paint again.”
Travel back to 1993, when only 13-year-old Endy immigrated to New Zealand with his family. Fortunately, his childhood acquaintance and good friend Joey also moved to the same place shortly after. The two never imagined that the dream that had always lingered in their minds would come true after experiencing immigration, in a new life and environment. The following year, Endy met Goro, a classmate who knew how to play the guitar, at school, and that’s how the Zarahn band was officially formed. Liking to “jam with a band” is probably just based on a burst of energy. In the early stages of band formation, some members left almost immediately, while new members joined. However, Zarahn had already created several original works in just a few years. Even Endy, who went to study in Japan in 1998, completed an album for the band before leaving and during his studies. Even without advanced communication equipment, even without grand ambitions of instant fame, these young men seem to really understand themselves and each other, with music connecting them.
You can’t deny that Endy really understands music and creation, but you may not have thought that, more than music, he was first addicted to drawing.
“Music, actually I only got in touch with it very late. When I was young, I started with drawing.” Endy shared. He even admitted that the appearance of music was just to get rid of drawing. Endy bluntly said that before the third grade of elementary school, he was always a terrifyingly quiet boy. Being called in by teachers to meet his parents in class due to lack of participation was nothing new to him, but only art and music classes could pull this boy out of the quiet space. “It was through drawing or music class that made me feel, like, a bit more natural.”
Interestingly, Endy even described himself as a boy suffering from a serious “addiction to drawing.” Mrs. Zhou once recounted some childhood anecdotes to him, which gave him a different perspective. “She told me that every time the whole family went out for tea on holidays, she just gave me a piece of paper and a pen, and then I could sit still without moving, continuously drawing for hours on end.” He tried it once and fell in love with it. Endy is best described as being in the world of music and painting. He openly admitted that if he hadn’t moved to New Zealand and truly come into contact with music, his “addiction to drawing” might have already taken over. However, he never imagined that the emergence of music would be another kind of “disaster” of addiction.
The story sounds a bit funny, but it is full of meaning. After nearly 20 years in the industry, what kind of experience is it for Endy?
“In fact, whether it’s music or drawing, I feel that it is more than just a language, a tool that allows me to express myself more easily.” Endy, through music, tries to break away from drawing, but finds himself deeply immersed in music. After years of repeated thoughts, observations, and feelings, he bravely admits that even as a singer-songwriter, he always relies on his right brain when writing songs – while others start with musical notes, Endy prefers to start with visuals, using scenes, colors, and other elements to conceive the rhythm and melody of the moment. On the contrary, when drawing in his spare time, he must have music as a companion. The difference is that at that moment, Endy chooses to listen to the peaceful sounds of nature, the sound of waterfalls, or the chanting of monks and the sound of singing bowls.”
Did painting inspire music, or did music influence painting?
Tightly knit.
In Endy’s eyes, the two worlds seem to have no definite connection, but painting and music are both things he really likes. He was able to become a singer because music chose him first on this path. Because of immigration, Zhou Guoxian realized his dream of “banding together”; but because of music, he was able to get rid of the entanglement of painting. But now, does Endy have some yearning for painting again?
“Perhaps because I started drawing from day one, and also studied fine art, design, and other subjects at art school, there was a time when I really hoped to work in the arts,” he paused, then added, “I have a strong feeling, deeply believing that one day I will paint again. Maybe when my music career reaches a certain stage, maybe then… maybe I’ll switch, or do both at the same time. I really don’t know.” The beauty of creation is probably like this, many ideas, many judgments are based solely on intuition or handling, the childlike heart is the treasure, drawing out the initial draft with a naive brushstroke, being able to express the inner self is the purest form of enjoyment.
“If there were no painting or music, I couldn’t find a reason to survive.”
Music is a hobby, liking music doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as a profession. Endy said that he didn’t talk much when he was young, and he once made people around him worried because he didn’t know how to express himself, but in the end, he became a frequent presence on stage. Is Endy’s choice to become a singer a form of self-challenge?
“In fact, it wasn’t until recent years that I slowly began to feel a bit more carefree on stage,” Endy shared. He admitted that when he first started in the industry, he would get nervous every time he stepped on stage, even after attending numerous award ceremonies. It took Endy many years to erase the taboo of caring too much about other people’s opinions.”
Unfortunately, due to embarking on inappropriate attempts, Endy gradually learned to release himself, “In terms of music, it can better present my active, angry, and violent side.” However, compared to music, even Endy feels that every time he picks up a paintbrush, he never pays attention to other people’s gazes, nor is he affected by surrounding objects, and this concentration is innate.
Endy shares that whether practicing in the classroom in the past or drawing at home, he has always been fond of pencil drawing. “I really like portraits. When I was studying, I always carried a sketchbook with me, as well as various pencils ranging from 2B to 6B, 2H to 6H, etc. I enjoyed sitting in a cafe during my free time, seeing interesting subjects, and secretly drawing in a corner.” He admits that this seemingly ordinary hobby or habit often makes him feel most comfortable and at ease. Until he was introduced to acrylic paint and oil painting in school, Endy learned the innovative creation of mixed media, combining different paints, tissues, white glue, clay, and collage. Over time, Endy began creating album covers, illustrations, and interior designs on his own. Without any specific plans or intentions, music and painting coincidentally walk together in Endy’s world.
It is not difficult to find that Endy’s creative habits are very casual and free-spirited, but as both a creator and a singer, he understands different perspectives from various roles. Does he focus more on interpretation or understanding? “Both are very important. In the past, I cared a lot about whether I could synchronize: whether the interpretation could be recognized; in terms of understanding, I hope that both my surface and inner self can be understood in sync.” Perhaps after going through different stages since his debut, Endy now more precisely says that he tends to be more “selfish” in his creations: “Now I feel that it is more important to pass my own test. Because if I don’t even like my own things, and I can’t be the most comfortable version of myself in my creations, even if others recognize it, I don’t think it’s truly mine.”
“Perhaps for me, (art) has become a part of the air or food.”
This visit coincides with the important season of Christie’s Hong Kong annual autumn auction, so we decided to boldly combine the interview with some of the key auction items to make Endy and the theme of art more prominent, expressing his rarely mentioned artistic side. With the assistance of Christie’s colleagues, we specifically selected four precious collections, which are: George Condo’s “Rodrigo and His Muse”, Bai Hairi’s “Yo Ryu Kun”, Georges Mathieu’s “Silence Apaisé”, and Takashi Murakami and Yoshitomo Nara’s “White Light; & White Night” photographs, allowing Endy to have a close look at the masterpieces.
From these works, it can be observed that Endy was particularly focused on the paintings of Master Bai Hairui. Later, it was revealed that this oil painting named “Yo Ryu Kun” reminded him of a childhood anecdote. He shared that he noticed the brush strokes on the canvas did not come from a regular brush. After inquiring, he learned that Master Bai Hairui used his feet to vigorously spread the oil paint, finding it both fierce and inspiring. “This reminded me of a fine arts class I took in New Zealand before,” he shared. “That class was an acrylic painting class, and the teacher instructed us to use brushes to complete the work. But with my rebellious nature, I felt that using bare hands to apply the paint seemed more natural at that moment. Indeed, painting directly with hands, the results were better than imagined.” However, being a rebellious child inevitably comes with challenges. Endy revealed that at the time, a classmate saw him seemingly breaking the class rules and reported him, causing Endy to mentally prepare for the teacher’s punishment. Then, the teacher walked to his seat, frowned at his artwork, seemingly ready to scold him. But what Endy heard was the following words:
“Put down your brushes, everyone in the class, and follow his (Endy’s) method of painting.” It was precisely because of this straightforward statement that Endy understood from then on that many things, especially artistic creation, should come from one’s own heart. “Just because of that moment, I felt that I should pursue a career related to art in the future.”
When asked about which artists have influenced Endy since childhood, the unexpected answer is himself!
Hayao Miyazaki is inevitable.
The animation of Hayao Miyazaki has accompanied many generations’ growth, definitely a beautiful childhood memory. He continued, “In fact, there are many, such as Egon Shiele, who has a tragic feeling in his paintings, but I find his world very romantic; and then there’s Yoshitaka Amano. Because I used to love the ‘Super Nintendo era’ Final Fantasy, his visuals combined with music and gameplay seem to present a very real, three-dimensional world, so Teacher Yoshitaka Amano has influenced me a lot in the watercolor world.”
Art is a hobby, but for Endy, art is a form of healing.
From a young age, he found a sense of ease in the midst of anxiety because of drawing, and becoming a singer allowed his creativity to be infinitely magnified. Although he cannot simultaneously satisfy his pursuit of both in his work, Endy frankly stated that if there were no painting or music in his life, he simply could not find a reason to live well. It is evident that art plays an indescribable role in Chow Kwok-yin’s life. “Art is like something that can be there or not, but in reality, it never is. I think it is very important, just like an indispensable nutrient for humans.”
“Hurry up and record the beauty of life, only to later discover how bad the world is.”
He is both a singer and a painter – if you have seen his paintings on his social media platform, you will know that calling Endy a “painter” is not an exaggeration – both identities are actually based on the concept and essence of “art”, and the most curious thing about Endy’s relationship with the two is how art has always influenced him.
“It’s like a mirror, with different sides in each period. It’s quite magical, that over ten years ago I used a pencil to draw, and today I still use a pencil to draw,” Endy explained. In the past, I could write a song with just an acoustic guitar, going through a lot of electronic, percussion, and noisy additions in between, but suddenly I would return to the acoustic guitar. It all stems from a different mindset and starting point today. “Now, what you need to learn is not how to add a lot of things, but rather to learn how to slowly subtract. As people get older, I find that I take away more things. Less is More.” This sentiment may sound a bit heavy, but when you carefully chew and digest the meaning in the conversation, you will find that relaxation is truly Endy’s understanding.”
“Creating is so interesting. Some people try to write songs continuously when they hit a bottleneck, hoping to work hard to bring out inspiration. Others can simply take a shower to clear their minds. In fact, I have tried many methods, but in the end, I found that I can only get inspiration from drawing when I can’t write songs.” Admitting that the lack of time has been the most troublesome for him, Endy, who has never truly been a singer or artistic creator, has always incorporated various artworks and designs into his own or Zarahn’s albums. From the 2004 album “Greenhouse Balloon,” Zarahn’s “12A Acoustic” and “Night of the Bizarre City,” to the later albums “College,” “This Is Not The End,” “Live A Life,” and “Wind Rises,” they have all become Endy’s canvas. He revealed that he has always had the idea of holding an art exhibition, so in recent years, he has started the habit of storing paintings. Even though he doesn’t have a clear idea in his mind, Endy confidently stated that the art exhibition will appear in the near future. “I don’t know if drawing and writing songs have always been interconnected, it’s really magical. So, I think it’s time to pick up the paintbrush again.”
“I am very scared, once I pick up the paintbrush, I keep painting and forget to write songs.”
I have always believed that creation is very polarized. On one hand, it is exciting and motivating because of its boundlessness, but on the other hand, it can be very personal, digging continuously into the heart. Even though I have never sat down and talked with Endy beforehand, my intuition tells me that he should aspire to the latter.
“I have actually been in a very tense state for a long time,” Endy continued, “In terms of what I pursue in my creations, I hope that through creating, like peeling an onion, I can find a more authentic self. Or, a more exposed self.” Having shared stories about their background in art and the influence of several enlightening artists, even discussing a few paintings about to be auctioned, here, it seems that layer by layer, the onion of “Zhou Guoxian” is being peeled away unconsciously.
In front of us is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has been in the industry for 18 years. Although he has taken breaks before, those breaks allowed him to realize what he truly wants. However, no one could have predicted that he would eventually set aside his guitar and focus once again on sitting in front of a canvas. “At this stage of your life, do you feel picking up the paintbrush is a ‘want’ or a ‘need’?” The interview continued, and suddenly I wanted to ask this question.
“Need.” Endy answered without hesitation. “I always thought it was ‘want’,” he continued, “Why have I never picked up a paintbrush? It’s because I’m afraid, I’m afraid that I’ll relapse into ‘painting addiction’ again, I’m afraid that once I pick up the paintbrush, I’ll forget about writing songs, forget about music. So, over the years, I dared not pick it up again.” Finally, Endy finally spoke out his innermost thoughts.
Feeling too cozy feels like being imprisoned, until I discovered that the sky outside the city walls in the wilderness is not that dark. As I continue to grow, Endy realizes that the existence of painting and music should not focus on how to choose one over the other. In fact, the two have been communicating and complementing each other over the years. “Now, I really want to get to know myself more,” he said. “If through music, maybe I can only see the eastern side of myself, and the western side will never be known. So, I think it’s time to get to know the dark side of the moon.”
“I know that there will never be a day to find the answer.”
Besides music, in recent years Endy has even ventured into acting in movies. Last year, he won the “Best Actor” award at the Hong Kong Film Directors’ Guild for his performance in “One Second Boxing King.” To squeeze in time for filming, Endy admits that it all stems from his own greed, “Especially in recent years, the things I want to do have been increasing, but the time available is becoming less and less. I am no longer in my ‘late teens and early twenties,’ I want to use the remaining time more wisely.”
Music, painting, movies, these are the places where you can foresee Endy appearing in the future or brainstorming, in order to deepen the understanding of oneself from artistic creation. Understanding oneself through art, what does Endy actually hope to gain from it? “Actually, I never thought about what I could gain from art.” Endy explained, “Instead, I want to understand what kind of person I really am through art. Whether it’s music, the world of movies, or the habit of drawing since childhood, I can find different aspects of myself from different mediums. With each film I make, each song I write, or each painting I create, it’s like finding a missing piece of myself, a piece to complete the puzzle.”
“I hope to one day find my true self, and I am working hard towards that every day now.”
Because of art, Endy learned to express himself; also because of art, Endy learned to know himself; now, the prepared Endy, looks forward to creating what kind of art by Zhou Guoxian? “There is no end. There is no beginning, and there is no end.” He firmly points out that he understands himself through art, this question actually never has an answer, and there will never be a day when the answer is found, only knowing that every day is actually in progress. Here, Endy, who has been sharing continuously in front of the camera, suddenly paused for a moment, and then said, “But I will enjoy this process, every time I paint, every day I write songs, I will enjoy this process.”
Art can change the world, it can also subvert thoughts, but for Zhou Guoxian, the meaning of life for each person is unique, and art that comes from the heart only needs to be accountable to oneself. There is no beginning, no end, Zhou Guoxian believes that creating art should be like this, hoping that he will know that Zhou Guoxian’s creative art will always be like this.
If you are interested in this work, why not take the opportunity to visit the exhibition hall 3D at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from November 26th to December 2nd, and enjoy the auction preview. At that time, in addition to exhibiting nearly three hundred works of art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, there will also be other categories of art and elegant products on display. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome.
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Executive Producer：Angus Mok
Producer：Vicky Wai
Photography：Olivia Tsang
Videography：Andy Lee, Man Tam
Styling：Vicky Wai
Makeup：Winkli @ Vinciwinki.com
Hair：Eve Chiu @ W.Workshop
Video Editor：Andy Lee
Editor：Carson Lin
Designer：Edwina Chan
Wardrobe：Loewe ; Mr. Porter ; COS ; Lane Crawford
Artworks：CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG LIMITED
