Wearing a mask for nearly 3 years, encountering the hottest July weather in Hong Kong’s recorded history, walking through the bustling city every day, indeed makes one wonder if they are living in reality – everything that used to be taken for granted seems to have been changed by the epidemic and global warming. Relying solely on pure reason, facing life can also feel too suffocating. 100 years ago, surrealism emerged, releasing the imaginative power in our subconscious; today, 100 years later, it continues to inspire Amy Lo, who is both an actress and a model.
“Surrealism is a bit unconventional, which is very much like myself.”
With a mix of Hong Kong and Costa Rican beauty and a tall figure, Amy’s mind is actually very imaginative, which is not only cute but also reflects her creative potential and intellectual depth. The theme of this shoot is surrealism, and Amy is also fond of this genre of art. “I’m not someone who looks at a lot of surrealist paintings, but I remember the first one I saw was Salvador Dalí’s classic ‘The Persistence of Memory,’ which I really liked, and then I started to see more and learn about what Surrealism is.” Even after completing a busy shoot, Amy, who is still energetic, talks about her interest in surrealism, saying that it is not illogical, but rather a bit abnormal, which is very much like herself: “I also have a bit of whimsical and imaginative thinking in my usual thoughts, so using art to present this kind of abnormal thinking in Surrealism is very attractive to me.”
Deeply love Magritte “What the eyes see is not necessarily real.”
Another surrealist work that Amy loves is René Magritte’s “The Treachery of Images”. “If there is one sentence to summarize Magritte’s surrealist works, it is ‘what the eyes see is not necessarily real’ – this is a sentence that I truly believe in,” Amy said. “Many people judge others based on appearances and superficial images, but being in the entertainment industry, I understand that ‘reality’ can be manipulated, beautified, and interacted with using different masks. This is when I truly appreciate the meaning behind Magritte’s works, including ‘The False Mirror’ and ‘Not to Be Reproduced’. The eyes are a window, but with our own perspectives added, reality becomes distorted.” In ‘The False Mirror’, we see not a mirror, but an enlarged eye reflecting the image of a blue sky and white clouds, which is Magritte’s critique of the deceptive nature of human eyes; ‘Not to Be Reproduced’ is one of Magritte’s most famous works: a man facing a mirror, but the mirror reflects the back of his head, the enigmatic image has sparked deep thoughts in countless people, including Amy.
“Time really flies by, I wish I could stretch it infinitely.”
In addition to painting, Amy is also deeply interested in music, literature, and movies. She prefers quirky and imaginative elements in these mediums as well. “I have a habit of writing down my dreams because I remember them very well, and my subconscious mind brings me a lot of inspiration. Sometimes it’s very nonsensical, like a cat carrying an elephant, or a toothpick swimming. One time I shared a dream with a friend and said I had to turn it into a movie. All rights reserved (laughs)!” Amy shares her fantasy of a surreal movie that she hopes will come to life one day: “It’s a bizarre story. I really want to make a very short period of time into a movie, maybe the whole story happens in just a few minutes of a bizarre situation. Time passes too quickly, and I want to incorporate the concept of ‘controlling time’ in the work, calling it ‘One Thousandth of a Second,’ hoping to infinitely stretch time.”
In love with “Birdman”: “I thought the fantasy and acting scenes were real.”
“I really enjoy watching movies because it’s not only a great way to relax, but also offers a lot of cultural and other perspectives to appreciate and learn from, such as the use of art and camera angles. One movie that I really like is ‘Birdman’. When Amy first heard the title of this superhero movie, she wasn’t interested in watching it. However, after a strong recommendation from her movie enthusiast friend, they watched it together and discussed it for hours. ‘It tells a super realistic world in a surreal way. The main character is a washed-up actor, and since I work in the performing arts industry, I can relate to his sense of powerlessness in the industry. I understand clearly that when emotions hit, people can become very unrealistic. For example, when the male lead is emotional, he imagines himself having superpowers, even in a scene that was similar to what I imagined – I thought the scenes of imagination and acting were real. The situation is like a scene where someone gets shot, with everyone surrounding him, but if I really left this world, would my soul leave my body? What would it be like to see everyone around me?”
Appreciating Frida Kahlo and Jean Cocteau
“Have you seen the Disney animated movie ‘Coco’? It’s a film suitable for all ages. The story is about the world of the dead, where all characters appear as skeletons. The movie has a lot of musical elements, and the colors are very rich. I already like it very much. In the movie, there is an artist responsible for the theatrical effects, and that is Frida Kahlo.” Amy continued, “No one ever thought of putting a real artist into a cartoon before. Frida Kahlo is a Mexican artist who has influenced many people. She still influences many people today, even in film culture. Her life story is very complicated. I am not someone who achieves success overnight. I am someone who enjoys the scenery along the way. This is somewhat similar to her. She is an artist/role model that I admire a lot.” Besides Frida Kahlo, Amy recently came across the works of the French surrealist genius (a slasher from 100 years ago) Jean Cocteau by chance and became fascinated. “I really like his works about celestial bodies. There are a lot of dots and lines in his works, which I feel resemble the state of my mind, always like coding. I resonate with Jean Cocteau, the ‘dot-line person.’ He doesn’t need a lot of colors and techniques to express himself. He also made films and influenced fashion design. I really want to share him with the readers.”
Cultivate your temperament naturally, it all starts from within
As a highly popular fashion model in recent years, Amy says she only dresses according to her mood each day. “For example, if I’m feeling down, I might wear something darker. My style isn’t very flashy, I mainly aim for a comfortable feeling.” However, most readers would agree that Amy exudes a kind of intellectual charm, and the humble Amy immediately states that she never sees herself as an “artsy” girl: “First of all, I don’t really know what ‘artsy’ means (laughs). I think it all has to start from within, without needing to force it. When you immerse yourself in different cultures, that feeling naturally emerges. For example, if you like energetic, heavy metal music, you naturally pay more attention to that aspect; even if it’s not refined, does that mean it’s not artsy? It’s still a kind of personal charm, studying and appreciating things, that’s how it radiates. When you find things you like, find that connection, then you’ll have that charm, right? The most important thing is to first find your own interests.” “A well-read person is a beautiful person” has always been the truth, and from Amy’s discussion of appreciating art exhibitions, it’s easy to understand why she’s seen as an artsy girl. “I really enjoy visiting art exhibitions, when I travel I always check out what short-term exhibitions are happening, I really believe it’s fate. Once in Japan, there was an exhibition about oranges organized by a group of elderly people. The exhibition included some workshops discussing which oranges taste the best, which color of oranges is the best to eat.” As long as it’s an interesting exhibition, Amy will be fully engaged: “Are oranges only orange? There was a color palette at the exhibition to see different shades of orange, very interesting. After the exhibition, there was a farming activity, I didn’t have water shoes but still participated, ended up covered in mud (and sacrificed a pair of sneakers) and took a three-hour drive back to Tokyo!”
Rediscover Yourself Through Art
Amy, who loves nature and deep breathing, recently visited the exhibition “Breath of the Forest” at Tai Kwun. She interacted with fellow visitors and gained more inspiration. “The exhibition was very detailed, with some paintings and photos, as well as a large screen of 3 to 4 meters, playing animations made of dots, telling the story of trees. There was a little boy next to me who spoke English, and he said, ‘None of these are trees.’ I looked at him angrily and said, ‘These should be trees!’ Then we started a conversation. I asked him if he thought people were like trees. He said, ‘No, trees don’t move! They don’t have mouths, they don’t eat.’ I said, ‘They do move, just upwards; they also eat, they absorb nutrients directly from the soil.’ He looked at me puzzled and said, ‘But trees have bugs.'” During the discussion, Amy reflected on whether she was realistic enough, and the child eventually realized that this beautiful sister was taller than his father: ‘Oh my God! You really are a big tree!’ Amy, enjoying herself, said, ‘If there were more opportunities for sharing at the exhibition, there would be a lot of inspiration.’ For Amy, the role of art is not only to cultivate temperament but also to understand oneself. ‘Why do we feel moved by different works? Maybe we find some connection. Paintings, music, and movies can touch people, creating a bonding with the viewer, which is a good way to get to know oneself. For example, I really like some surrealist works because everyone has a kind of sensitivity, a different perspective on things, and sensitive areas. Each surrealist painting may not have a concrete meaning, unlike landscape or realistic works; its meaning depends on how you see it. When you appreciate and share, you will once again understand your character, viewpoints, and improve yourself.’ It is this pure passion for art that makes Amy Lo unconsciously exude a different aura – does the unintentional beauty make you like her more?
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Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Gin
Photography: Feicien Feng
Art Direction & Set Design: yukchiloo
Videography: lai.tsz.chung
Styling: Lois Leung
Make Up: Jenny Shih
Hair: Him Ng from The Attic
Text: Meiji Ray
Wardrobe: Miu Miu, Gucci, Prada, Givenchy, Christian Louboutin, Silentnostalgia
