About the Author

Born in 1932, Mr Kai Ming Kong is one of the very few first-generation self-taught painter born and raised in Hong Kong. Kong has had a passion for art since childhood, but soon after completing junior secondary school, he has become a breadwinner of his family. He taught himself painting techniques and art history in his own time. Kong is especially good at drawing people and scenery. He is also skilled at using fountain pens, pencil sketching, painting with watercolours and oil pastel, and printmaking. Kong has been engaged in art education since the age of 20, until retiring from teaching in 1993. Dedicated to art creation and art education for over 60 years, he has taught at institutions including Kowloon Tong School, the Hong Kong Academy of Fine Arts, Hong Kong Ling-hai Art Institute, First Institute of Art and Design, School of Continuing and Professional Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Continuing Education at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Tertiary Society of Art, Hong Kong Police Painting and Calligraphy Club, and Hong Kong Correctional Services, nurturing numerous talents in arts. Apart from painting and teaching, Kong has published more than 60 volumes of art education-related books, contributing to the local arts industry. In order to expand and further his artistic horizon, Kong keeps challenging himself by travelling to and drawing worldwide. His works were exhibited in the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Mainland China and Taiwan. He has been invited and has participated in 10 joint exhibitions. His albums Paintings of Hong Kong Historic Landmarks and Landmarks of Hong Kong are among the collections of former Governor Sir Murray MacLehose, former Governor Lord David Wilson, former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, and the Government House and the Library of 10 Downing Street.

Recent accomplishments:

• Honorary Fellow of David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies awarded by the Hong Kong Baptist University in 1996
• BronzeBauhinia awarded by the HKSAR government in 2006
• 2007 Arts Development Awards (Visual Arts) accorded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2008
• The title "Hong Kong Literary Author" given by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in 2016

"Kai Ming Kong is pursuing artistic spirituality. He not only paints the outer world, but also includes spiritual awareness in his works. He brings the spirit of art back to nature and let one's true self to experience the spiritual infinity.

… Let the mind wander freely, and inner peace will come."

Kang Sheng Lin, Huang Sheng Huang

Former Directors of Guangdong Museum of Art

——Excerpt from Foreword,Kai Ming Kong: Splendid China Series, Modern and Contemporary

Artists Series from the Guangdong Museum of Art exhibition,

September 2000

"I salute him and his marvelous career – not only as an artist, but also as an inspiring teacher who has shared his unlimited skill and sincere love of art – and of Hong Kong – with countless students and aspiring artist – and with the world of Asian Art. Kong is a one-of-a-kind teacher, artist and friend – a marvelous addition to the world of art."

G.F. Brommer,

Former Member of National Watercolor Society (Life Member and Former President)

——Excerpt from Foreword, Reaching the Highest Level through Watercolor: A collection of watercolor paintings by Kong Kai Ming,

published by Hong Kong Economic Times in March 2014