Contemporary artist Gordon Cheung has reflected on identity, migration and the legacy of colonialism in an interview published today by The Culturalist, following his recent move from the UK to Hong Kong.
Born and raised in Britain to Hong Kong parents, Cheung relocated to Hong Kong earlier this year, where he has established a studio with gallery gdm. Although the move was prompted by family circumstances, it also marks a new chapter in his internationally recognised practice.
In the interview, Cheung describes resisting expectations placed on him as a minority student at Central Saint Martins. "I feel a kind of pressure, as if as a minority student, you 'must' create works on the themes of separation, immigration, home loss, exile or return," he said. "White students will not be asked to explore these topics." Cheung explains that while he initially rejected those assumptions, he later recognised that his experience of living between cultures had naturally shaped his work. His multidisciplinary practice explores global capitalism, geopolitics, financial systems and colonial history through paintings, sculptures and digital media.
The interview also highlights Cheung's growing engagement with Hong Kong's history, including research into his family's New Territories ancestry, which has informed recent works examining Britain's colonial legacy. His work continues to receive international recognition, with Trembling Sunrise recently entering the M+ collection and exhibitions taking place this year in the UK, Hong Kong and the United States.
Gordon Cheung's solo exhibition, Many Worlds, One Mind, runs until August 15th.
