Coming from an architectural background of infrastructures and skyscrapers, Borneo-born experimental artist Red Hong Yi has always loved the synergy between art and science. Despite her fervent interest, she didn’t initially see art as a viable career path. “I’m not a painter. I could never compete with those who attended prestigious art schools, so I followed my own course,” she says. For Red, deviating from the norm is an asset, which likely accounts for why her name is synonymous with many celebrated projects and why she is famously dubbed as the artist who ‘paints without a paintbrush’.
Red’s mixed media installations alter practical mediums through a cumulative pile of objects. Her work often challenges cognitive patterns and mental conjectures by exploring themes such as women, heritage, race, and climate change. Red intermixes traditional practices and digital tools, employing mounds of eggshells, chopsticks, teabags, soil, salt, socks, and copper plates. Her showpieces have been exhibited worldwide at commanding venues such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Saatchi Gallery in London, Anchorage Museum in Alaska, and H Queen’s in Hong Kong. A notable appearance on the TIME magazine cover also garnered her industry attention, featuring an artwork set ablaze with 50,000 matchsticks.
This year brings a new chapter in Red’s life with the arrival of motherhood, requiring a balance between her professional and personal lives. Amidst these adjustments, her creativity spirit has not diminished. She recently teamed up with Cosentino to create a versatile Totem Shelf piece using their newly launched EARTHIC® by Silestone®XM mineral hybrid surfaces collection, and designed three original abstract works—Terrain, Zigzag 1 and Zigzag 2—for Louis Vuitton’s newly furbished store at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
“Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who was a full-time artist, and my parents were quite nervous about me pursuing art professionally. Although I appreciated architecture and enjoyed seeing buildings come together, I realised it wasn’t my ultimate passion. A pivotal moment came when I moved to Shanghai and connected with my father’s side of the family. I met my late grand-uncle, who was an oil painter back in the ’60s and ’70s, and painted posters for the Chinese Communist Revolution. I was at crossroads, considering a career switch, and really needed solid advice. He told me, ‘Make sure to have your own voice. Be authentic and don’t try to be like anyone else.’ His words were incredibly powerful, especially coming from someone with his background and experiences.”
“The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career has been self-doubt. It was difficult in the past, when I had no guidance and support. At that time, there weren’t many artists working independently in Malaysia, so I felt like I was one of the few. I really had to navigate my own path, and go through all the trials and errors. At the moment, my most productive periods are when I’m both happy and healthy. I now work in the evenings because I have a baby boy at home. Balancing work and motherhood requires a lot of support, but I’m blessed to have such a supportive partner.”
“I think having my artworks showcased globally definitely impacted my approach to success and my career. I’ve noticed that what connects with people is the way I use familiar materials in unconventional ways. I always remind myself to view the world with fresh eyes. Sometimes, we lose inspiration because we’re used to things we’ve seen too often. For instance, when I recently visited Bali, I was hooked by its beauty and culture. But, for someone who lives there, it might seem ordinary. This is why I like to use everyday items in my work, because I get to present them in a new light and, hopefully, inspire people to view things differently.”
“There have been a few mentors in my life. Two stand out in particular. The first is my art teacher, Mr Chia, who taught me outside of school during my teen years. My parents arranged these extra classes for me because they could tell how much I loved and enjoyed doing art. Mr Chia encouraged me to explore creativity beyond realism—he tapped into my strengths and imagination, and helped me to develop my artistic vision. We had lost touch for many years, so when I had my first little breakthrough in art, I reached out to him. It was such a nice feeling when we reconnected—we chatted for hours and geeked out on art. He truly influenced me as a young artist.”
“The second mentor was Michael Hawley, a professor from MIT University and a well-known figure in digital media. When I was just starting out, he got in touch with me and invited me to speak at a conference he organised. The audience included many prominent figures like Matt Groening (creator of The Simpsons) and a list of many others. Having someone like Michael who believed in me was extremely encouraging and empowering. His sudden passing during the pandemic was a great loss, and I will always be grateful for his support.”
“I would say, as clichéd as it may sound, stay humble. The world is big, and there’s always something new to learn, no matter how much experience you have. It’s important to remain curious and open-minded wherever you go.”
Illustrations by Dawum Jeong
