Art of Laughter: MIDAM ✕ Chi-kit KWONG Artist Talk and Comics Jam
Organisers: Hong Kong Arts Centre (Comix Home Base), Consulate General of Belgium in Hong Kong
Date: 19.11.2023
Time: 14:00-16:00
Venue: Eric Hotung Studio, LB/F Hong Kong Arts Centre
Conducted in English supplemented with Cantonese
Free admission
Online registration is required. Places are limited on a first-come-first-served basis.
Register NOW: t.ly/kaudA
Participating artists
Speaker: MIDAM (Belgian comics artist)
Guest Moderator: Chi-kit KWONG (Hong Kong comics artist)
He travels to space and fools around with the aliens. He brings his daydreams in and messes the his daily life. He puts himself in the video game for wacky adventures… The character in Midam’s gag-a-day comics series Kid Paddle and Game Over brings Belgian comic laughter to readers all around the world.
Midam started the series in 1993 and gained its popularity with its surprising plot twists, dark humour and engaging storytelling. With over 16 million copies sold in the series and over 400,000 copies sold in its latest album alone in French, it is one of the best-selling French-language comics series. Over 30 years, the comic series has been beloved by hundreds and thousands, and it has also been adapted into an animation TV series, video games and even amusement rides in a theme park.
In the sharing talk, Midam will attend in person and share his comics-making and creative process, also his experience of publishing as a contracted and independent artist, and his insight on the European comics market. The talk is moderated by Chi-kit Kwong, the gold award-winner of the HKCSP who is also publishing his works in French. The two artists will have art jam – create comics together!
more and more Hong Kong comics have been licensed for foreign language versions and sold in the European comics market in recent years. For anyone who is interested in the foreign comics market and wants to learn more about the journey of one of the best-selling European comics artists establishing his artworks in the French market. Don’t miss the talk and the opportunity to meet him in person.
Registration NOW: t.ly/kaudA
About MIDAM
Michel Ledent, alias Midam, was born in Etterbeek, near Brussels in 1963. He studied illustration and interior decoration at the Institut Saint-Luc in Brussels, and started creating comics in 1989 for the computer magazine Micro-Systèmes. He joined Spirou magazine in 1992 as an illustrator for the video games section.
The character he created there, Kid Paddle, soon got its own series, which became very popular, with over 16 million copies sold in French. New albums sell some 400,000 copies in France alone, making it one of the top ten best-selling French-language comics series. In 2002, a separate Kid Paddle magazine was launched, and an animated TV series was created as well, with so far 104 episodes. The spin-off series Game Over was created in 2004, presenting the misadventures of the main character of the video games Kid Paddle is fond of playing in his own albums. The comic is wordless and is according to Midam inspired by the ever-failing quests of Wile E. Coyote. The first album sold 60,000 copies.
Facebook : Midam (MidamBD) |Instagram : Midamartwork (@midamartwork) |
Tiktok : Midamartwork (@midamartwork) | Twitter : Midamkidpaddle (midamkidpaddle)
About Chi-kit KWONG
Chi-kit Kwong was born and raised in Hong Kong. He studied and worked in the United States for years. Afterwards, he returned to Hong Kong and taught for 10 years. Now that he is in his midlife age , he resolutely picks up his comics dream again.
His work The Architect’s Epiphany was published under the 1st HK Comics Support Programme (HKCSP) and has received the Silver Award and The Best Character Design Award. His latest comics Indigo has won the Gold Award in the 2nd HKCSP. French edition of his comics The Architect’s Epiphany will be launched in early 2024.
Facebook: chikitkwong | Instagram: @townbuilding_man
About Hong Kong Arts Centre
Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All
Since 1977, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) has been a platform for nurturing and supporting artists, and infusing art into everyday life. Its unique arts and educational programmes aim to make the arts accessible for all. The HKAC believes in the transformational power of art for people from all walks of life. Established more than four decades ago, the HKAC bring art to the people of Hong Kong – by presenting programmes for visual arts, performing arts, moving images and media arts, comics and animation. Other areas also cover arts education, conferences, festivals, public art and community projects, all done with the vision and mission of engaging and inspiring creativity in the Hong Kong community.
In 2000, HKAC founded its educational arm, Hong Kong Art School (HKAS). The HKAS provides award-bearing programmes to nurture artists and art practitioners, as well as short enrichment courses for the general public. The HKAC aspires to engage everyone in the community to become an active participant in the arts – as an enthusiast, an artist or a patron.
Let’s continue to embrace ‘Art for Passion, Art for Life, Art for All’, and share the inspiration.
Official website: hkac.org.hk | Facebook: Hong Kong Arts Centre | Instagram: @hongkongartscentre
About Comix Home Base
Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) believes that comics and animation are important local pop culture and artistic creations. HKAC has been dedicated to planning and organising diverse and unique activities to promote the arts and culture of comics and animation to the local community and abroad.
Since 2006, HKAC curated Comix Home Base project (CHB), hosted over 700 ani-com-related events, such as exhibitions, talks, workshops, performances, publications, screenings, public arts, etc. Outside Hong Kong, the footprints of Hong Kong comics can be found overseas in France, Belgium, Britain, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Singapore, Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, etc. Through the uniquely planned programmes, several Hong Kong comics artists have got chances to initiate international collaborations in publishing their comics in foreign languages in Europe. These all made an impact on the international comics scene and help to raise the profile of Hong Kong comics internationally.
HKAC (CHB) continues to proactively look for opportunities to promote Hong Kong's diverse comics and animation arts, with the aim of increasing international recognition and awareness of Hong Kong’s comics artists and their unique works.
Official website: www.comixhomebase.com.hk | Facebook: hkacchb | Instagram: @comixhomebase
