About

Kwok Tsui (b,1989)

Hong Kong, China

My practice is an autobiographical exploration of my experience as an immigrant, examining themes of displacement and diasporic existence through painting.

Working primarily in subtraction, removing paint from the surface to reveal light and form, creating shadows within, an order and tension between presence and absence, belonging and disconnection. This push and pull interplay fosters a contemplative sense of ‘in-between’, a transient space that feels otherworldly yet safe, serving as both retreat and encounter.

Recurring silhouetted circles function as associative forms in my work, evoking the moon, maternal presence, guidance, and relational bonds, while gesturing toward notions of completeness deeply embedded in Eastern cultural thought.

I work at scale. The muted, largely monochromatic surfaces are composed of thin layers of paint that reveal traces of previous iterations and identities. Lines repeat across the surface in a unified horizontal direction, shaped by deliberately controlled brushstrokes. These linear rhythms hold a quiet vibration. Everything flows together, equal, interdependent, connected, reflecting a fundamental cultural need to belong. This subtle cohesion forms a quiet sense of unity.