Wilson Shieh
The Hong Kong Club, St. John’s Building, The Peak Tower and The HSBC Main Building
2026
H 120 x W 80 cm (Framed)
Acrylic on canvas
The 1980s heralded a period of rapid and profound transformation across Hong Kong’s cityscapes, defined by the demolition and reconstruction of classic landmarks such as The Hong Kong Club and the HSBC Main Building. The resulting Hong Kong Club Building emerged as an award-winning architectural triumph, while the reimagined HSBC Main Building stands today as an internationally celebrated paradigm of contemporary design.
Similarly, St. John’s Building—the lower terminus of the historic Peak Tram—was rebuilt in the early 1980s to award-winning acclaim. In the following decade, The Peak Tower underwent its own reconstruction; though its new design initially sparked spirited public discourse, the last thirty years have cemented its legacy as an indelible icon of the city. This work is uniquely created for Design Trust Charity Auction 2026.
About Wilson Shieh
Wilson Shieh transfers his intricate Chinese fine-brush, gongbi painting technique to his various media of choice, ranging from ink on silk, acrylic on canvas to paper cutout collage, filtering traditional Chinese ink paintings through a contemporary lens.
Best known for his figurative paintings, Wilson uses traditional brushwork techniques to depict themes and narratives derived from the popular culture of East Asia and his immediate environment in Hong Kong. In his acclaimed Architectural Series, he transformed the Hong Kong skyscrapers into figures donning tailor-made costumes.
Through his narrative of human bodies, Wilson inquires about the issues of modern identity in an often humorous light.
Born in Hong Kong, Wilson earned a Fine Arts BA and MFA degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He participated in numerous local and overseas exhibitions, including the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane in 1999. His works are featured in institutional collections worldwide, including Hong Kong Museum of Art; M+ Hong Kong; Ashmolean Museum, Oxford University; and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco. The artist now lives and works in Hong Kong.