Making It With Alex See #15 - Petr Hajek

Making It With Alex See #15 - Petr Hajek

Can a former professional footballer and corporate lawyer redefine the art scene? In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Petr Hajek, the founder of the Chemistry Gallery in the Czech Republic, whose career pivot proves it's never too late to follow your dreams. From writing legislation to pioneering the promotion of emerging artists, Petr shares his "Blue Ocean Strategy" for success when he started his gallery with no prior art experience. We dive deep into his unique philosophy of feeling the "chemistry" with an artwork rather than needing to understand it. We also explore how he curates lively exhibitions by blending contemporary art with local electronic music. We also discuss his international ambitions, his thoughts on Hong Kong's growing art hub, and his crucial advice for young artists looking to catch a gallery's attention. If you are contemplating a major career change or an artist trying to break into the commercial gallery world, Petr’s adventurous spirit and practical advice on building trust and taking risks is essential listening. 🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: Start listening to find your own blue ocean. CHAPTERS: 01:00:00 - Intro: Petr Hajek's unlikely background 01:04:08 - The "Blue Ocean" strategy for starting an art gallery 01:06:55 - Learning the art world on the fly 01:14:36 - Naming the "Chemistry Gallery" and feeling the art 01:20:31 - Why artists need to work with curators 01:23:28 - Making art accessible through "Chemistry Prints" 01:27:40 - Mixing electronic music with fine art 01:31:12 - First impressions of the Hong Kong art scene 01:37:51 - Final advice: Follow your dreams QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:"It's not important to understand, it's not important that you don't know too much about art. It's important to feel... chemistry." - Petr Hajek "By Blue Ocean Strategy, I mean that it's important to do things that nobody else is doing because then the competition is much easier." - Petr Hajek "I think it's important for clients to understand... they should be working with galleries, buying from galleries, because if they do this, the galleries can support the artists." - Petr Hajek **ABOUT THE GUEST:**Petr Hajek is the founder of the Chemistry Gallery in the Czech Republic. After a career as a professional football player and a lawyer, he pivoted to the art world to champion emerging young artists. He is known for integrating electronic music into his exhibitions and actively promoting Czech artists on the international stage. ABOUT THE HOST: Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries. CONNECT WITH US: Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene! 📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

Making it with alex see episode #14 - Majorie

Does true artistic freedom come from waiting for inspiration, or from relentless discipline? In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Marjorie Hernandez, a Peruvian artist and educator who left her comfort zone in South America to dive into the vibrant art scenes of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. From transforming a spare apartment room into a chaotic, multi-medium studio to fusing the neon "Chicha" colors of Lima with traditional Chinese ceramics in Jingdezhen, Marjorie approaches her craft with unyielding passion. We dive deep into her philosophy on creativity—debunking the myth of the "inspired artist" and treating art as a muscle that requires daily training, rigid schedules, and routine. Marjorie opens up about her early insecurities, the aggressive push from her family to finally go abroad, and why having an idea means absolutely nothing if you don't bring it into "Planet Earth." We also discuss her unique Gelli plate printing techniques, the profound lessons she learns from teaching young students, and her bold vision to make Hong Kong’s art community more accessible, collaborative, and open for up-and-coming creators. If you are a creative struggling with self-doubt, waiting for the "perfect moment" to create, or navigating the challenges of finding your voice in a foreign culture, Marjorie’s energetic and highly disciplined perspective is exactly what you need to hear. 🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: * The Discipline of Art: Why relying on inspiration is a trap and how to build a strict creative routine. * Cultural Fusion: Blending vibrant Peruvian "Chicha" colors with Asian cityscapes and traditional ceramics. * The Power of Support: How a tough-love push from her family changed her life trajectory. * Gelli Plate Printing: Exploring this unique, hands-on, and accessible printmaking technique. * From Idea to Reality: Why conceptual ideas are just theories until you execute them. * Hong Kong's Art Scene: The opportunities and challenges of creating an open, collaborative art community. Start listening to engineer your own creativity. CHAPTERS:0:00 - Intro: Why we are having this conversation01:13 - Who is Marjorie Hernandez? (Peruvian Artist in Asia)02:50 - Overcoming insecurity and the power of family support05:25 - Discipline vs. Inspiration: Creativity is a muscle08:06 - Setting goals, mini-journals, and bringing ideas to "Planet Earth"09:12 - The greatest lessons learned from teaching young artists13:35 - Urban Neon: Viewing Hong Kong through a Latin American lens17:38 - Mastering ceramics in Jingdezhen, China19:30 - The hands-on art of Gelli plate printing24:06 - Navigating the Hong Kong art scene as an expat31:30 - Final advice: Just get it done QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE: "The work of an artist requires a lot of discipline. Many people think it's based on inspiration... you just get the job done. Creativity is a muscle you need to train." - Marjorie Hernandez "If you do not bring those ideas into Planet Earth, that idea doesn't exist. It's a theory." - Marjorie Hernandez "Do the work. Get it done. Never mind when, but get it done." - Marjorie Hernandez ABOUT THE GUEST: Marjorie Hernandez is a Peruvian artist and educator currently based in Shenzhen, China. With a background in fine arts, she explores cultural identity, memory, and emotional states through a variety of mediums, including Gelli plate printing, ceramics, and textiles. By blending the vibrant, neon aesthetics of Peruvian "Chicha" culture with traditional Asian techniques, Marjorie creates a unique visual dialogue that bridges her South American roots with her life in Asia. ABOUT THE HOST: Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries. CONNECT WITH US: Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene! 📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

「畫靚嘢」的極致誠實：從 Photoshop 悟出油畫秘訣 (ft. 風漸 Fung Jin) - Making It with Alex See

畫畫一定要探討生死、探討人性，才能稱得上是「好藝術」嗎？ 在本集《Making It》中，我們邀請到香港畫家風漸 (Fung Jin)，一位在創作上展現極致「誠實」的藝術家。他拒絕用艱深晦澀的哲學理論來過度包裝作品，理直氣壯地宣告：「我就是喜歡畫靚嘢！」 風漸與我們分享了他非常獨特的自學歷程——從零開始，他透過 Photoshop 軟體中的「色調分離 (Posterize)」濾鏡，逆向拆解了人類幾百年來的油畫色彩邏輯。他將畫面看作地圖與等高線，像砌拼圖一樣，一步步建構出自己極具標誌性、既平面又立體的獨特畫風。同時，我們也深入探討了他畫筆下的香港風景，從長沙灣的平台花園到下午放學時熟悉的「煮飯味」，看他如何用畫布重組並保留這座城市的集體記憶。 此外，風漸對香港藝術市場有著敏銳的觀察。他指出市場正經歷前所未有的「透明化」，曾經神秘的畫廊如今大方貼上紅點與標價，藝術品正逐漸走入尋常百姓家。最後，對於數位創作浪潮，風漸提出了強而有力的反思：為什麼在 iPad 上作畫只是讓電腦「猜測」你的指令，永遠無法取代在真實紙張上手繪的靈魂連結？ 如果你厭倦了藝術圈的過度包裝、對非傳統的自學方法感到好奇，或者懷念舊香港的城市溫度，風漸直白且純粹的藝術視角，絕對會讓你耳目一新。 🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro: 誰是風漸？與《易經》卦象的淵源 05:15 - 自學之路：從 Photoshop 濾鏡中悟出油畫秘訣 14:30 - 重組記憶：長沙灣平台花園與消失的香港味道 25:40 - 藝術的誠實：為什麼畫「靚嘢」不需要用深奧理論包裝 35:10 - 香港藝術市場觀察：從神秘的畫廊到透明的紅點標價 42:20 - iPad vs 真實手繪：科技帶來的方便與失真 50:15 - 大館 Touch Gallery 最新聯展資訊分享 QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE: "我鍾意畫靚嘢嘅，咁我話畀人聽我畫靚嘢... 我唔需要話我呢個代表生死呀、呢個代表脆弱咩，我唔需要呢啲嘢㗎。我反而覺得而家係少咗啲咁誠實嘅嘢。" - Fung Jin "你用 iPad 嚟畫畫，同你畫喺實物上面係兩樣嘢嚟㗎，絕對係兩個概念！... 佢呢樣工具就係我畀個指令佢，佢『估』我諗乜嘢。" - Fung Jin "以前買一幅畫係好難想像嘅事... 但係而家好似個個都買到畫。以前外地畫廊都見唔到紅點... 咁而家甚至乎喺個 Caption 度會寫埋價錢。" - Fung Jin ABOUT THE GUEST: 風漸 (Fung Jin) 是一位香港畫家，其筆名源自《易經》的「風山漸」卦。他以獨特的幾何解構手法與充滿通透感的畫風聞名。風漸從日常香港風景中汲取靈感，致力於將生活痕跡與城市記憶轉化為畫布上的永恆。他堅信藝術應該回歸誠實與純粹，拒絕過度概念化，並持續在實體創作中尋找最真實的連結。他的作品近期將於大館 Touch Gallery 展出。 ABOUT THE HOST: Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries. CONNECT WITH US: Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene! 📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

Leaving a 30-Year Career for Art (ft. Bernard) - Making It with Alex See

Can an architect build a better world with a canvas instead of blueprints? In this episode of Making it, we talk with Bernard, an architect with a 30-year career who recently moved into being a full-time artist. From working on large projects like Hong Kong's Victoria Dockside to painting abstract pieces, Bernard uses both to create a sense of belonging. We explore his "Half Time" awakening during the pandemic. This reflection inspired him to leave his firm and focus entirely on his passion for art. Bernard shares his unique practice of mixing care for nature with creativity. He reuses building samples, turning stone into sand for his canvases. His faith also influences his work, using colors to show unseen forces: white for the Almighty, yellow for the Spirit, blue for hope, and red for love. He also discusses his show at the CUHK Museum of Climate Change, where he paints icebergs in gold to show their value to our world. Finally, we discuss Hong Kong's active art scene. Bernard shares his vision for a new autumn art festival to keep the city's creative energy going outside of the busy March season. If you are considering a career change, care about climate change, or are curious about abstract painting, Bernard’s view on keeping creativity pure is a must-listen. In this episode, we cover: - The "Half Time" Pivot: The pandemic was a wake-up call for Bernard to switch to full-time art. - Creating Belonging: Bernard sees buildings as functional sculpture. Public spaces like Victoria Dockside unite communities. - Colors of Faith, Hope, and Love: There is deep meaning in his color choices. He uses blue to represent hope that carries us through dark times. - Golden Icebergs: Glaciers are precious. Bernard uses gold paint to highlight them in his Museum of Climate Change show. - Reusing Materials: Bernard turns old stone samples into sand for his art to support nature and avoid waste. - A Vision for HK's Art Scene: Bernard suggests a new art fair in September or October to balance the March rush of Art Basel. - Humanity vs. AI: We must protect our inner creativity. Bernard warns the next generation not to let their minds be spoiled by artificial intelligence. Start listening to learn why art is a human necessity. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: From 30 Years in Architecture to Full-Time Art 02:38 Architecture as Functional Sculpture and Victoria Dockside 07:45 The "Half Time" Pandemic Pivot 14:26 Climate Change and Our Responsibility to the Environment 18:00 The Abstract Colors of Faith, Hope, and Love 22:15 Painting Precious "Golden" Icebergs for CUHK 32:41 Reusing Building Samples into Canvas Texture 35:09 Hong Kong's Art Scene and a Pitch for an Autumn Fair 46:52 A Warning on AI and Why Art is a Necessity Quotes from the episode: "I look at building, not necessarily just as a commodity... I think it's a piece of functional sculpture that embody a lot of concept." - Bernard "I believe art is not a luxury. It is a necessity for everybody." - Bernard "Keep creating in your mind and keep pure with your thoughts and do it with passion." - Bernard About the guest: Bernard is an architect with over 30 years of experience who moved into being a full-time artist. His work explores climate change, social duty, and faith. He currently has a series on icebergs at the Museum of Climate Change at CUHK. About the host: Alex See is on a mission to help artists and creative people thrive in Hong Kong. Through Making it, Alex interviews the minds shaping culture to show what it takes to succeed in creative fields. Connect with us: Subscribe for more on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene! Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

Balancing a Corporate Job with Creative Passion (ft. Yvonne Chin) - Making It with Alex See

Why does someone who went to art school hesitate to call herself an artist? In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Yvonne Chin, a creative who balances a full-time career in insurance with a deep passion for art and community. We dive into her journey from studying photography in college to creating digital illustrations and custom pet portraits that give back to local Hong Kong charities. Yvonne opens up about the complexities of her Asian American identity, the struggle of making friends as an adult, and why her ultimate goal isn't fame, but genuine human connection. We also explore the Hong Kong art scene, discussing the need for more affordable art, adult open studio spaces, and why she believes art should be a mandatory subject in schools. If you’re a creative dealing with imposter syndrome, an introvert looking for community, or simply someone trying to be a little kinder to yourself, Yvonne’s story is exactly what you need to hear. 🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER: Start listening to find your community and create with intention. CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro: Why Yvonne said yes to the podcast02:22 - Who is Yvonne Chin? (Insurance, dogs, and identity) 05:02 - Earliest art memories and pivoting to photography in art school 10:30 - Navigating her Asian American identity 13:58 - Art as a love language and giving back to charity 18:27 - 10-year vision and learning to oil paint 24:50 - The creative process behind custom pet portraits 36:01 - Commercial art vs. passion in Hong Kong 39:54 - The need for affordable art and adult classes in HK 44:40 - Why art should be a mandatory subject 49:07 - Final message: Be kind to yourself QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE: "I made it a habit to introduce myself as a person versus my career. But I am an artist." - Yvonne Chin "All it takes is asking. Everyone wants to help, but not everyone has an avenue to do it." - Yvonne Chin "I think you should be kind to yourself. I think that's the way everyone should go through life." - Yvonne Chin ABOUT THE GUEST: Yvonne Chin is an artist and creative based in Hong Kong who bridges her art with philanthropy. Educated in photography at art school, she currently works in insurance but dedicates her creative energy to digital illustration, pet portraits, and product design, often donating the proceeds to local charities. ABOUT THE HOST: Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries. CONNECT WITH US: Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene! 📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee Copywriting:YouTube Description