Ricker Choi at Trinity Hong Kong Art Exhibition 2022 by https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD Hong Konger artist Ricker Choi's selected artworks as featured in the art exhibition at Trinity College Dublin: "We Persist Therefore We Have Hope" - Trauma and Resilience of Hong Kongers through Their Art since 2019" May-June 2022. Biography: Ricker immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong in late 1980's. He studied business at York University, and has a career in financial risk management. For 30+ years, Ricker has not paid too much attention to Hong Kong, and has lost contacts to many childhood friends. But in June 2019, he had a shocking awakening when 1 million, and then 2 millions Hong Kongers marched in unity against the extradition law. Seeing Hong Kongers' bravery when faced with rampant police brutality and oppression from the Chinese Communist Party, Ricker decides to use art to honor Hong Kongers. He has composed a solo piano work "Hong Kong Rhapsody" in honor of Hong Konger's fight for freedom. He is also a painter and has been using his art to raise money for organizations that help Hongkongers to settle in Canada. en-us 2022-03-19 18:37:52 UTC 2022-05-02 11:45:27 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-uploads.storage.googleapis.com/389559972/83f104efa30e97407c7cbd4fab135c3d/Ricker_Choi_YellowUmbrella_DigitalOnly__Signed.JPG "Resistance" by Ricker Choi Hongkonger30624300 https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103192824 Ricker Choi: "This painting is referencing the famous Tank Man, the Chinese man who bravely stopped the advance of a large column of tanks on June 5, 1989 in Beijing, the day after Chinese Communist Party's brutal crackdown at Tiananmen Square.  The artist adopted this scene and replaced Tank Man with a woman holding a yellow umbrella, representing Hong Kong's resistance against Chinese Community rule.  Yellow umbrellas first arose during the Umbrella Movement of Hong Kong in 2014.  At that time, umbrellas were used to shield protesters from HK Police's pepper spray during the 79-day occupy movement.  Since then, yellow umbrella has become a symbol of Hong Kong's fight for freedom and democracy, including the 2019 anti-extradition protests."]]> 2022-03-19 19:19:52 UTC https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103192824 "Save 12 Hong Kong Youths" by Ricker Choi Hongkonger30624300 https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103194886 Ricker Choi: "12 Hong Kongers aged 16 to 30 were arrested at sea by Chinese coastguards on August 23, 2020 when trying to escape to Taiwan.  They were immediately disappeared into mainland, and were not heard nor seen.  They were denied access to lawyers, medicine, and contact with family. Those who helped them were also arrested.

The boat in the painting represents their escape. The drowning of the hand gesture "5 demands, not one less", a slogan chanted during the 2019 protests, demonstrates that till the last breath, Hong Kong people will persist in their fight."
]]> 2022-03-19 19:23:50 UTC https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103194886 "Reminiscence Of Lennon Wall" by Ricker Choi Hongkonger30624300 https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103196426 Ricker Choi: "This is the Lennon Wall at the staircase leading to government office of Legislative Council complex in Admiralty, Hong Kong.

The first Lennon Wall appeared in Prague, Czechoslovakia, after John Lennon's murder in 1980. The wall was decorated with art, lyrics from the Beatles' music, and messages of various global causes.

In Hong Kong, the first Lennon Wall appeared during the Umbrella Movement in 2014. Protesters pasted colourful Post-It notes with messages and drawings advocating for democracy and freedom.

During the 2019–20 Hong Kong anti-Extradition protests, Lennon Walls appeared again across Hong Kong.

With the enactment of the National Security Law, the Lennon Wall and other forms of protest are now criminalized. This painting captures the sentiment of the loss of freedom suffered by Hong Kong people."
]]> 2022-03-19 19:27:23 UTC https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103196426 "Yellow Umbrella" by Ricker Choi Hongkonger30624300 https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103198286 Ricker Choi: "Yellow umbrellas first arose during the Umbrella Movement of Hong Kong in 2014.  At that time, umbrellas were used to shield protesters from Hong Kong Police's pepper spray during the 79-day occupy movement.  The 2014 Umbrella Movement was ignited by the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on August 31, 2014, which required pre-screening of candidates for the 2017 HK's chief executive election, thereby reneging on its promise of  democracy for Hong Kong.  Since then, yellow umbrella has become a symbol of Hong Kong's fight for freedom and democracy, including the 2019 anti-extradition protests."]]> 2022-03-19 19:29:55 UTC https://padlet.com/Hongkonger30624300/RickerChoi_at_TCD/wish/2103198286