Creative Fuel

Hong Kong-based architect and designer Frank Leung discusses the collections he’s most intrigued by right now

“I’ve always liked

American painter Chuck Close’s saying: ‘Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work’,” quips Frank Leung, the founder of Hong Kongbased studio Via.

Founded in 2009, the firm’s name signifies “a process, journey and transition”, as well as its collaborative culture with creative types and craftsmen across disciplines. Via has since amassed an extensive portfolio of commercial, hospitality and residential clients, and clinched multiple awards and global recognition along the way. Here, the arbiter of taste picks out the pieces that have caught his eye recently.

YUET TUNG TABLEWARE

“Yuet Tung is the only surviving ceramics factory in Hong Kong specialising in hand-painted porcelain ware; it has been around since 1928,” says Leung. “One of my favourites is the plum blossom range, which adds colour and a nostalgic quality to any dining table.”

RIMADESIO COVER FREESTANDING SYSTEM

This sleek shelving system is featured in the House of Madison showroom in Hong Kong, which Leung designed. “The Cover Freestanding is built with a sleek aluminium frame, making it a standout piece as a two-way display unit, a room divider, as well as wardrobe,” he says. “The components and accessories can be completely tailored to the space or needs of its owners.”

NAO CANDLE BY ONE K EDITION

“This is our first lifestyle piece for One k edition, the product creation and decoration arm of Via,” explains Leung. “It was inspired by a weeklong trip to Naoshima

A PAINTING BY CHEN CHI-KWAN

Leung admires the work of Taiwanese artist Chen Chi-kwan, whom he considers instrumental in shaping a new direction for Chinese modern art. “His works reveal abstract concepts of nature and humanity through decorative colors and architectural lines. Peaceful Coexistence (pictured above) is one of Chen’s works I acquired from a private collector in 2005,” says the designer. in 2019. Working with Hong Kong artisans, we created concrete textures with complementing scents—yakisugi, aubergine and fern—to reflect the memories from this trip, all crafted into a sensorial experience.”