About

Kwok Tsui

Born 1989, China

My practice is an autobiographical exploration of my experiences as an immigrant, examining, through painting, themes of displacement and diasporic existence. The muted, largely monochromatic surfaces of my paintings hold a quiet vibration, composed of thin layers of paint that reveal traces of previous iterations and identities. 

Working primarily in subtraction, I remove paint from the surface to reveal light and form, creating shadows within—a 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 a retreat and an encounter.

Recurring silhouetted circles in my work evoke a range of associative and representational elements, often suggesting the moon, a portal, and the concept of completeness deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

I work at scale. Lines repeat in a unified linear direction, shaped by deliberately controlled brushstrokes, across the surface of my paintings. Everything flows together in a horizontal rhythm, with each element belonging and moving equally as part of a whole, illustrating the deep connection to tradition and cultural duality present in my work.