Meet Adrian Kay Wong | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adrian Kay Wong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adrian, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Like many others who are pursuing something they are passionate about, work-life balance often doesn’t exist because, well, we make our work our lives. It’s really no surprise, especially for creatives, because our lives will often find their way into the work. And because the work is a reflection and expression of at least part of our lives, full circle.

Early on, I approached this balancing act as most people do: work and life as mutually exclusive entities where there is a time and place for one or the other. So I spent, in my mind, all my time in “work” and sacrificed “life”. After all, there’s this art practice thing that I needed to establish! And to be fair to myself, there was a very palpable mix of ambition but desperation, and determination but fear; there just seemed to be so much that needed to be done. After several years, I did “life” things to counterbalance the burn out that was the result of the pace in which I was working. I took time off, went out, traveled – all with the intent of balancing “work” with “life”.

It wasn’t until recently that I sort of realized that I was approaching this all in the wrong way. Or maybe, I was lucky enough to have reached a point in my career where I can afford to be less dogmatic. But either way, I’ve found that if I want to work all the time, I shouldn’t feel any guilt or shame for that. I love what I do. I find fulfillment in it, it makes me a better person in some ways, I learn a lot, and I think it affects people positively (hopefully).

Nowadays, I still spend most of my time working. But, I try to treat the balance, whether work or life or a convoluted mix of the two, with sort of a disciplined casualness. There’s a lot to be done, and I’ll always prioritize that, but if life throws me a curveball, or if I find myself down a deep Wikipedia rabbit hole on some random topic, that’s okay. I can be productive, have fun, work, and live all at the same time. After all, that’s probably the greatest part about my occupation.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Where to even start?

Well, first off, I primarily make paintings. In them, I depict subtle narratives of the seemingly incidental moments of the everyday. Interwoven with personal stories, memories, and cultural identity, I explore the often coexisting dualities inherent to our human experience. My paintings are often characterized by vivid colors, flat surface quality, and arrangements of familiar, everyday objects. I lean heavily on composition and skirt the boundary between abstraction and representation.

While I did go art school for four years, I’d say the biggest part of my journey professionally began after graduating. It was extremely difficult; I attribute some of the lowest and hardest times in my life to these first few years. I felt lost, directionless, behind, and, to be honest, mediocre. While trying to establish an art practice, I also had to support myself, learn all the ins and outs of developing a creative practice, as well as immerse myself in a city that I didn’t know much about. Long story short, it was a big test on my resilience, determination, and discipline.

While I think I can give myself some credit for overcoming these challenges, I honestly think I survived and out of sheer stubbornness. I made it very clear to myself early on that all of “this” was going to be up to me. No one’s going to hold my hand and show me the way. There isn’t going to be some big break. In the end, the work either gets done, or it doesn’t. I make the steps or I don’t. In a weird way, I took away choice in the matter. Just move forward.

I probably could have approached it in a way that was more healthy for my mental and physical health. But in the end, the most “optimal” route is often one of perfection, and perfection after all is an ideal that is misguided and immaterial. So long as we give it our all, be accountable for our time and efforts, and just show up every time, that’s all we can really hope and judge ourselves for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man. Tough question to keep it concise. I’ll drop some picks here and there, but there’s too many good places to name. Food-wise, I’d definitely head to the San Gabriel Valley for some Cantonese breakfast and dim sum. Delicious Food Corner or Lunasia off Main Street if you don’t mind waiting. All the good Chinese food is out there. Sichuan Impression, Dai Ho, Bistro Na. Koreatown is great for food and drinks. Wako Donkasu, Dan Sung Sa, Star Night. Pa Ord in Thai Town, Hachioji in Little Tokyo, Camphor in Arts District, Open Market or Bub And Grandma’s for a good sandwich. Moo’s Craft BBQ in Lincoln Heights. Oh, and any trip to LA must include taco trucks at various times of day. Marisco Jalisco and Carnitas El Momo in Boyle Heights. Lupitas in Lincoln Heights. I have to end it here or the list would go on forever.
Activity-wise, to be honest, I’m a pretty low-key person. I’d probably just visit some good exhibitions at either a few of the many great galleries here or at a museum like LACMA or the Getty Villa. I love going to bookstores. A Good Used Book, The Last Bookstore, Hennessy and Ingalls. If weather permits (which in LA usually means if it’s just too hot or not), early morning hikes are the best. I usually shoot for something around 7 or 8 miles. Takes a couple hours, sometimes can get brutal, but the meal and drinks afterwards are always enjoyed tenfold and without guilt. At night, I always prefer just grabbing some drinks and having good conversation either at my studio or at a bar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well, firstly, I thank my family. My mother, who showed me what a selfless, patient, and kind person truly looks like. I try to live up to this daily. My father taught me hard work, sacrifice, diligence, and resilience. My aunt made me feel seen, and gave me the allowance to be who I am. My twin brother. Always the rock that reminded me I was never alone. Many more to name, Justin, Evelyn. Char. James. Ryan. Thanks to all you guys.

Website: www.adriankaywong.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/adriankaywong

Image Credits
Megan Cerminaro. Uprise Art.