Lumli Lumlong

In response to the diaspora of our hometown, we created this painting. Paying tribute to artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo, we use iconic Hong Kong food that has faded away over time to form a human face: pineapple bun, siu mai, fish ball, silky milk tea, egg tart, claypot rice, and more. Hong Kong is where East meets West, often resulting in a hilarious cultural fusion. For example, the nose is a Hong Kong-style “French toast”, and the milk tea cup is marked “Made in Holland”. The background is paved with bricks from a traditional Hongkongese café, which is influenced by British afternoon tea culture. We hope to preserve our culture while inviting global audiences to connect with it.

A London-based Hong Kong artist couple in exile, Lumli Lumlong, create grotesque-style oil paintings reflecting social realities. They studied fine art in France, and their works have been exhibited internationally, including at the European and UK Parliaments. Husband Lumlong paints the left side by day, while wife Lumli paints the right at night. They fled Hong Kong in 2021 amid suppressed freedoms. They believe that social reality can be more “terrifying” than their paintings.