Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.

Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.

Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.

Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.

Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.

Background in the Mainland; Migration to Hong Kong
Kan Tai Keung was born in San Shan Village in Panyu. He lived with his grandparents, wife of father’s brother, mother and younger brother while his father worked in a tailor shop in Guangzhou. Kan’s grandfather was a craftsman specializing in lime plaster craftsmanship. He made embossment-type or stereo statues, and did some garden design and mural creations. In his retirement, he sold foreign groceries for a living. As pastimes, he did painting, seal craving and so on. Kan found that influenced by his grandfather, he loved arts since childhood. Kan often imitated the pictures from one of his grandfather’s collections, the “Manual of the Mustard Seed Garden”, and fell in love with drawing. Kan grew up with his younger brother. They studied and practised painting together at San Shan Primary School. Yet, Kan regarded himself academically less capable than his brother.

Kan was born in 1942. During his childhood, he was educated under the rule of the Chinese Nationalist Government. In 1949, the new China was founded. He saw the changes brought about by the change in political rule and witnessed the political revolutions in the country. When he was 11, Kan went to Guangzhou to go to senior primary school and junior high school. His younger brother also went to study in Guangzhou for school the next year. Shortly, Kan’s mother migrated to Hong Kong through legal channel for the reason of reunification with Kan’s father, who was then working in Hong Kong. After Kan and his brother finished Secondary 2, they came to Hong Kong also through legal channel for the reason of paying visit to family relatives. They became new immigrants in Hong Kong that year.

Worked as a tailor after arriving in Hong Kong; no more exposure to art
When Kan made the move from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, his father considered his academic capability (especially English proficiency) was up to the standard of other students, and therefore sent Kan to learn tailoring as an apprentice. Kan’s younger brother entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong after joining tuition classes. And then they set foot on two different paths of development. Kan learned to suit blazers during his 3 years apprenticeship. After the apprenticeship, he had worked as a tailor in Yee On Tai Tailor shop for seven years. Kan had dreamt to be a painter, as his love for arts had been influenced by his grandfather since his childhood and he did quite well in Fine Arts at school. But due to the heavy workload in the tailor shop, he had to stay at work all day and no time to pursue his interest. Fortunately, as he became more senior in the shop, he was relieved from doing chores in the shop. He could spare time for learning English but he had no time for cultural and artistic activities. Besides, Hong Kong did not have a good aura of art at that time and so it was hard to rely on artistic work for a living. As a result, Kan remained a tailor for a living.

Admiring brother's achievement in art; decided to pursue his own dream in art
Kan loved listening to classical music for leisure and he learned musical theories and the art of appreciation for music by reading books himself. He would think about the vision of life when reading the biographies of some musicians. He also enjoyed movies and literary magazine such as the “Chinese Student Weekly”. Upon his pen pal’s introduction, he became interested in reading some avant-garde literary magazines of that time, such as New Ideology and The Cape of Good Hope published by the Modern Literature and Fine Arts Association. Through these readings, he gained much knowledge about stream-of-consciousness novels, existentialism and so on, which inspired him of thinking deeply about the value of life. Because of health problem, he saw the importance of life.

In contrast, Kan’s brother worked well at school, and graduated from university a few years later. Kan’s brother was recommended by his school to learn fine arts under the supervision of some master painters and calligraphers during the university years, and so he was able to build a solid foundation on fine arts. Later, Kan’s brother entered an open competition in arts held by Ng Yuen Gallery, and won the championship of watercolour painting. Kan envied his brother’s success in fine arts, and reckoned that he should be able to make similar achievement as what his brother did, as they had similar upbringing when they were young. In pursuit of a meaningful life, he felt he should not give up the dream that he had made since childhood, so he was determined to become an artist.