Is art just a decoration, or is it a historical record of a city disappearing before our eyes?

In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Rick Lo, a Hong Kong artist and lecturer who balances the "slash" life of being both a designer and a creative artist.

Rick’s work is a love letter to a Hong Kong that is fading fast. From capturing the iconic neon signs of the 80s to the nostalgic "Airplane Olive" throwers, Rick views his role not just as a creator, but as a historian capturing the city's fleeting moments. We explore his internal tug-of-war between his rational designer brain and his desire for artistic freedom, and his latest experiments with Chinese calligraphy to break his own rules.

If you are struggling to balance a full-time job with your creative passion, or want to understand the role of art as a "buffer" in a stressful society, this conversation is for you.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

The "Slash" Identity: Navigating the blurry line between being a client-focused designer and an expressive artist.

The Historian's Mission: Why Rick feels a responsibility to "record everything before it fades out" in Hong Kong.

Art vs. Design: How he fights the urge to make everything logical and learns to embrace the spontaneous.

The Plane Window: The story behind his viral AR artwork that captures the emotion of leaving and returning to HK.

Buffering Society: Rick’s view that art isn't just about healing, but creating a necessary "buffer zone" for stressed citizens.

The Google Doc Habit: The surprisingly rigid way Henry tracks his life to create space for creativity.

Future of HK Art: Why integrating art into daily community life is more important than expensive museums.

Start listening to rediscover the city you live in.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Why artists need to share their stories

03:12 - Who is Rick Lo? (The Designer vs. Artist struggle)

08:26 - The "Commercial" Trap: Do people like it, or do I like it?

12:00 - Art Fairs vs. Galleries: Why strangers give the best feedback

16:40 - The "Plane Window" & "Hot Air Balloon": Capturing the migration wave

20:01 - Recording History: Why he paints neon lights & old Hong Kong

23:40 - "Airplane Olives": Nostalgia for a disappearing culture

32:05 - Visual Evolution: Moving from rigid lines to color and calligraphy

42:53 - The "Be Nice" Philosophy: Why kindness is a survival skill

46:00 - Advice to his 16-Year-Old Self: "Be Brave"

49:43 - The Google Doc: Tracking every moment of life since 2018

51:45 - Art as a "Buffer": The artist's role in Hong Kong society

54:22 - Opportunities & Challenges: Space, sponsorship, and community

QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:

"I don't want to use healing. I want to use buffering... Having the society to have a little bit of a sense of space to think of what the room to play with." - Rick Lo

"If a city doesn't have an artist, it is kind of like a nightmare. And everything will be boring and not fun at all." - Rick Lo

"You need to get rid of the life that you have probably, and then try something new... Be brave." - Rick Lo

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Rick Lo is a Hong Kong-based artist, designer, and lecturer. He is known for his digital artworks that capture the unique urban landscape of Hong Kong, from cyberpunk tram rides to nostalgic neon signages. Blending his background in design with artistic expression, Rick aims to record the shifting identity of the city, acting as a visual historian for a landscape that is constantly evolving.

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.

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📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee