March in Hong Kong is sometimes referred to as Art Month, a time when various art-related events and exhibitions happen in Hong Kong. Amidst all the hubbub is a delightful exhibition in gallery Commaa featuring the work of Korean illustrator drawingmary. She is an artist who holds a bachelor's degree in Animation from Hansung University in Seoul. Her work has been exhibited throughout South Korea, including Daegu Shinsegae Gallery, Gwangju Shinsegae Gallery, and Lotte Gallery. drawingmary engages in different art forms, including acrylic painting and digital drawing and has collaborated with brands such as Casetify and Hoegaarden. Furthermore, she is also behind the 'Mary' series, which is one of Korea's first acrylic colouring books.
“how is your Day?” is her new exhibition in Hong Kong. Here, she warmly asks visitors to pause and embrace the calm of such a busy month. It features the character Mary, a notable figure in her work. But this time, there is a new character called Day, who is a dog. The concept of the exhibition is "painting joy" as drawingmary draws cheerful and daily moments with Mary and Day, which allows viewers to connect and think about their daily lives. In addition, the exhibition also has a special campaign, "A Day with You", which includes nine commissioned pet portraits from various artists. The accompanying artworks show the relationship between individuals and their companions, much like Mary and Day, to spread joy. The illustrations exude cuteness as much as they do warmth.
Below is an email interview with drawingmary dated March 24, 2025. She shares more about her exhibition and how she finds joy in solitude.
Given the title of your exhibition, “how is your Day?”, what’s a typical day like for you?
These days, I spend most of my time in the studio. With upcoming exhibitions, I’m somewhat tied to a tight schedule. But honestly, I find the time I spend working alone to be the most comfortable and enjoyable.
You embrace the concept of “painting joy”, how did this come about? What kind of moments do you like to portray and share?
One day, just like any other, I loaded my brush with paint and swept it across the canvas. But for some reason, the sensation felt especially pleasant that day. At that moment, I had a strong desire to share that feeling with others. So, I began to share the process of painting with colours. To my delight, many people resonated with it. Their response brought me joy in return, turning that simple moment into something even more meaningful.
The exhibition marks your return to Hong Kong for the second time. What do you like about Hong Kong? Do you find any similarities between Hong Kong and Korea when it comes to looking for inspiration?
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the gallery in person for my first exhibition due to the pandemic. About five years have passed since then. But during that time, some people in Hong Kong continued to show their support and interest in my work, which I deeply appreciated. I truly wanted to return for another exhibition, so I’m very thankful to those who made this opportunity possible. Personally, I love the unique cityscape of Hong Kong. Among its many charms, I especially enjoy the vibrant energy and the warmth of the people, which, to me, feels quite similar to Korea.
This time, you bring a pet “Day” to the exhibition. Can you tell us more about Day and its significance to you?
People often assume that “Day” is my real dog. But actually, Day is a character I created, who is a friend of Mary [another character I created]. I named the dog “Day” with the hope that when Mary and Day are together, they create a perfectly joyful day. In my mind, Day is a quiet and dependable presence. While Mary can be happy on her own, having Day by her side brings a sense of comfort and peace.
The exhibition features a special campaign with 9 commissioned pet portraits. How did you choose the portraits to feature?
I’ve heard that people in Hong Kong and visitors of Comma have a deep affection for their pets. That inspired me to think, “What if there could be other versions of ‘Mary and Day’ beyond just my own?” I thought it would be meaningful to include them as part of the exhibition, which is how this campaign began. It was a joy to see and paint so many different companion animals through this project.
Where do you find moments of warmth? How do you find joy in solitude?
I feel warmth at the sight of people peacefully coming together. At the same time, I find joy in the calmness of being alone within a group and enjoying my own thoughts. This joy probably stems from my shy personality.
What’s the best part about being an artist?
I think one of the greatest joys is being able to express what I imagine and feel in my own way, and to share that with others. Knowing that there are people who connect with and resonate with my work brings me deep happiness.
"how is your Day?" is on view at Commaa until April 24, 2025.
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