Chief Change Officer
#106 Hong Kong’s May Yeung: Creating Art’s Brightest Magic from Life’s Deepest Struggles
Mon, 16 Dec 2024
For the first time, my podcast comes full circle! Though I started and run this show in Hong Kong, I’ve yet to feature a guest from right here in my home city—until today. Meet May Yeung: a teaching artist, founder of the charity Art of My Family, cancer survivor, and proud mom to an 14-month-old cutie. Through art, May is reshaping lives and championing sustainability, mental health, and social inclusion right here in Hong Kong. In a city known for its financial might, May shows us a path of passion and purpose, proving that art can spark meaningful change. Bonus? Our youngest guest yet—her 14-month-old son—is along for the ride. Stay tuned! Key Highlights of Our Interview: 3:17—From Wall Scribbles to Ceramics: A Childhood Steeped in Art “From the time I was around two years old, I would draw on walls before I could even write my name. By five, my father and I were creating ceramics together. At age 12, my fascination with dadaism and pop art gave me the conviction to become an artist.” "I met Professor Jeff Oppenheimer who gave a lecture on integrating art into daily life, and daily life into art, and the contents of this lecture really helped to form the framework and direction of my art to this day." 6:00—Where Art Meets Music: How Music Has Influenced Her Art Creation 8:41—From Crunching Numbers to Crafting Impact: How Finance Led May to Art and Social Change 11:20—Faith Over Fear: How Battling Cancer Transformed a Perfectionist into a Celebrator of Life’s Small Wins "I think the cancer experience really let me feel a greater sense of conviction to serve the underprivileged" 16:25—Art for Archer: How Motherhood and Heritage Shape Her Creations 18:09—Dim Sum and Chinese Checkers: Weaving Hong Kong’s Culture into Every Piece of Art 21:34—Memorable Art Pieces “What If” and “Blossom Love”: Sculpting Bridges Between Cultures and Endless Possibilities 23:19—From Corporate CSR to Creative Compassion: The Birth of Art of My Family 30:00—May’s Life Mission to Inspire the Next Generation: The Three C’s of Art Education and the Role of a Teaching Artist Connect with us: Host: Vince Chan | Guest: May Yeung ______________________ --Chief Change Officer-- Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself. Open a World of Deep Human Intelligence for Growth Progressives, Visionary Underdogs, Transformation Gurus & Bold Hearts. 6 Million+ All-Time Downloads. Reaching 80+ Countries Daily. Global Top 3% Podcast. Top 10 US Business. Top 1 US Careers. >>>100,000+ subscribers are outgrowing. Act Today.<<< --Chief Change Officer--Change Ambitiously. Outgrow Yourself.Open a World of Expansive Human Intelligencefor Transformation Gurus, Black Sheep,Unsung Visionaries & Bold Hearts.EdTech Leadership Awards 2025 Finalist.18 Million+ All-Time Downloads.80+ Countries Reached Daily.Global Top 1.5% Podcast.Top 10 US Business.Top 1 US Careers.>>>170,000+ are outgrowing. Act Today.<<<
Chapter 1: What inspired May Yeung to pursue art?
Mei is a teaching artist. What is a teaching artist, you may wonder? And how does she develop her artistic journey? Before we do a deep dive, let us start with May's history. May, give us an overview of your history, your education, your life experiences, just to give us some perspective. Then we will explore different elements of your journey in the later part of our show.
Sure. Growing up, I've always really enjoyed art more than anything else. And much some kids prefer playing sports, art really came naturally to me. So from the time I was around two years old, I would draw on walls before I could even write my name. And art was one of the ways my parents and I bonded. So when I was three, my mother taught me how to sew origami.
And by five years old, my father and I were creating ceramics together. At age 12, my positive experiences with art from my childhood really gave me the conviction to become an artist, during which I had a fascination with Dadaism and pop art. And I eventually went to the University of Chicago to study arts.
This is where I met Professor Jeff Opensheimer, who gave a lecture on integrating art into daily life and daily life into art. And the contents of this lecture really helped form the framework and direction of my art to this day and also were one of the major factors in my decision to become a sculptor specializing in pop art and large installations for puppet spaces.
You went to the University of Chicago to study visual art along with another interest of yours, political science. I happen to know a lot of people from Hong Kong and China, including myself, who attempt the University of Chicago to study economics, business, mathematics, or physics. Yet, even at your young age, you purposely chose art as your major. Tell us more about the why
Why at that age you decided to pursue art as your major? Why you wanted to get serious about this field of study rather than just keeping it as a hobby or as an interest?
For me, art is a way of self-expression as well as a way of communication with others. And I think the power of art is that even for words that cannot be expressed, it can be experienced through art. And I think, as I mentioned earlier, Professor Jeff Obertheimer, actually, as well as Professor Laura Lipskinski, both of them play a very important role in my artistic career.
They really encouraged me to jump outside of the box and incorporate some of the daily life materials into my artwork. And that's also my philosophy as an artist too.
You've mentioned to me before that music has had a significant influence on your journey as an artist. Can you share more about how music plays a role in your art world?
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Chapter 2: How has music influenced May Yeung's artistic journey?
My transition from finance to startup and then to art was a kind of gradual realization of my calling in life and what I really wanted to do through my career. And earlier you mentioned I worked in finance. I was an analyst at Goldman in the U.S. And back then I had the opportunity to work on the CSR initiative and the experience really impacted me.
Specifically, the community team works, which provided relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Sandy. And so I actually at that time, I helped organizing community art events and become a really fun family for me and inspired me to shift a career towards focusing and making a positive social impact.
Coming back to Hong Kong, I then joined the founding team of the Liberal Hong Kong Office as the social responsibility lead. food recovery programs and providing free meals for the community. And so seeing the potential for cooperations to support their communities really solidified my desire to use my abilities to benefit those in need.
And all these experience and also with personal help challenge that's actually led me back to my original passion for art as a pop art sculptor and also the founder of the charity Art of My Family. I now really delegate. dedicate my career to bring creative opportunities to underprivileged youth in Hong Kong, sticking to the values of ART art, which is affirmation, resilience, and faithfulness.
So today I look back at my career transitions and I realized that the nature of my various roles, be it finance, be it startup, it was really my calling to do social work. And the spirit of perseverance I gradually developed through these experiences is really what shaped me who I am today.
Speaking of perseverance, I can't help but ask about a significant aspect of your personal life. You shared in other media interviews that you were diagnosed with cancer at a young age and battled the illness for a considerable time. Could you share how this experience transformed or impacted you? Did it make you a more empathetic or artistic person? Or perhaps it had a different effect?
How does this health and personal experience shape your journey? I think our listeners would really appreciate hearing about the life lessons you've learned from this challenging time.
Sure. So before my cancer, I was wrapped in my own cocoon. And growing up, I was a relentlessly perfectionist. So I set very high standards for myself. I was very critical of myself, of everything from work to daily life. And back then, I micromanaged all the operations of my design company, Art and Love, and also my charity, Art and My Family.
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Chapter 3: What led May from finance to art and social change?
I think my cancer, my fight with cancer, really gave me a new perspective on life. I transformed into someone who really placed emphasis on faith. And when I say faith, I would say F really stands for having faith in myself. Instead of challenging what I do all the time, I actually embrace it and have confidence in myself. And A, it's feeling alive and celebrating small things in life.
It's not easy to be a sculptor. A lot of times things are being affected by the temperature, things are affected by the humidity. But celebrate the small things in life and you'll become a happier artist. I, it's creating an impact on society by making a difference one step at a time. That's
Also, my mission, no matter as a sculptor or as a committee artist, and T is really touching lives and hearts by helping people around me. And so really happy to have set up Art of My Family to achieve that. And H, taking better care of my mental and physical health, as well as actually helping the mental wellness of people around me as well. So yeah.
I think the camp experience really gave me, let me feel a greater sense of conviction to serve the underprivileged, whether through events such as French May, Feldenmolder, Panda workshops, to Mother Nature Next Generation exhibition.
A near-death experience gives you a new perspective on life. While that experience is full of suffering, and we don't try to glorify it. It can also lead to personal growth. You came out of it as a better person, someone who embraces life more fully and finds greater happiness. And speaking of life, I know that in recent years, you've started a new chapter
You got married to another Vince, who's also a friend of mine, from the University of Chicago. And you have a son, a new life that you're nurturing. How is modelhood treating you so far? How has this experience, along with other major life events, impacted your perspective as an artist and in helping your communities?
Just give me one moment. Archer is coming over soon. I would like to carry him as I'm answering this question. So please help me. Oh, he's sleepy. Okay. Did you interrupt his afternoon baby sleep, beauty sleep? Actually, he was awake before the call, but then he fell asleep. Yes, like this. Okay. Hi! Yes, hi! I'm trying to grab a photo of the three of us. Let's see. Okay.
So back to our original question about a new chapter in your life about a new life that you're nurturing about motherhood
Speaking of motherhood, my journey actually really inspired a new purpose for my art creations. From my pregnancy to the birth of my son, Archer, that's when I realized that my work could be created with the goal of enriching the next generation, regardless of its maybe work or regardless of the art pieces.
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Chapter 4: How did battling cancer transform May Yeung's perspective on life?
And that's why I actually incorporated Dim Sum Steamer and French Made Art Festivals to buy my exhibition back in 2017, as well as Mother Nature and the Generation exhibition. I think Dim Sum, this intangible cultural heritage is something that is really worth talking to people and actually people from all over the world to treasure.
And Chinese checkers and even ping pong balls are things that I really love playing as a little girl. And so that's something that I, it's really fun to actually see them shy in my artwork.
I remember that I actually took a photo with that piece and Vince, your husband, explained the significance of that dim sum container to me. Since Vince's family is in the restaurant business, he shared how dim sum plays a major role in Hong Kong's dining culture and overall culture.
That really big dim sum container, especially made, as far as I know, was something you turned into a piece of art.
Yes, but it has always been great working with Deokchon Samgye. They are the fifth generation of bamboo artisans in Hong Kong. And it's really fascinating to see them that they still handcraft bamboo steamers, which is not easy. Actually, a lot of the steamers these days are actually made with a mix of bamboo and metal.
What they do for us, working together with us for the exhibition, makes it even more precious. And I always love to incorporate some fun food elements into my work. I think not only experience my other half, but also just experienced by me growing up, it's always trying to treasure food.
Like even, for example, a few years ago, for Art of My Family's program, we had a two-year program related to marine conservation. So in 2020, we actually recycled over a few hundreds of seashells and turned it into artwork. And the children actually interviewed fishermen, the fifth generation of fishermen in Aberdeen.
to create artwork related to Chinese bone script culture, as well as actually exhibiting their work and taekwondo. And then the next year we worked on ideas related to the sea and seafood as well, because we also believe in sustainable seafood. The kids actually drew on Japanese postcards that we call atagami. and to express the importance of making things sustainable.
May, tell us a bit more about your artwork. Are there any particular pieces that stand out to you? Ones that you find especially memorable and would like to share with us?
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Chapter 5: What role does motherhood play in May's art and mission?
Chapter 6: How does May incorporate Hong Kong culture into her artwork?
How does this health and personal experience shape your journey? I think our listeners would really appreciate hearing about the life lessons you've learned from this challenging time.
Sure. So before my cancer, I was wrapped in my own cocoon. And growing up, I was a relentlessly perfectionist. So I set very high standards for myself. I was very critical of myself, of everything from work to daily life. And back then, I micromanaged all the operations of my design company, Art and Love, and also my charity, Art and My Family.
I think my cancer, my fight with cancer, really gave me a new perspective on life. I transformed into someone who really placed emphasis on faith. And when I say faith, I would say F really stands for having faith in myself. Instead of challenging what I do all the time, I actually embrace it and have confidence in myself. And A, it's feeling alive and celebrating small things in life.
It's not easy to be a sculptor. A lot of times things are being affected by the temperature, things are affected by the humidity. But celebrate the small things in life and you'll become a happier artist. I, it's creating an impact on society by making a difference one step at a time. That's
Also, my mission, no matter as a sculptor or as a committee artist, and T is really touching lives and hearts by helping people around me. And so really happy to have set up Art of My Family to achieve that. And H, taking better care of my mental and physical health, as well as actually helping the mental wellness of people around me as well. So yeah.
I think the camp experience really gave me, let me feel a greater sense of conviction to serve the underprivileged, whether through events such as French May, Feldenmolder, Panda workshops, to Mother Nature Next Generation exhibition.
A near-death experience gives you a new perspective on life. While that experience is full of suffering, and we don't try to glorify it. It can also lead to personal growth. You came out of it as a better person, someone who embraces life more fully and finds greater happiness. And speaking of life, I know that in recent years, you've started a new chapter
You got married to another Vince, who's also a friend of mine, from the University of Chicago. And you have a son, a new life that you're nurturing. How is modelhood treating you so far? How has this experience, along with other major life events, impacted your perspective as an artist and in helping your communities?
Just give me one moment. Archer is coming over soon. I would like to carry him as I'm answering this question. So please help me. Oh, he's sleepy. Okay. Did you interrupt his afternoon baby sleep, beauty sleep? Actually, he was awake before the call, but then he fell asleep. Yes, like this. Okay. Hi! Yes, hi! I'm trying to grab a photo of the three of us. Let's see. Okay.
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Chapter 7: What is the mission of May's charity, Art of My Family?
And Chinese checkers and even ping pong balls are things that I really love playing as a little girl. And so that's something that I, it's really fun to actually see them shy in my artwork.
I remember that I actually took a photo with that piece and Vince, your husband, explained the significance of that dim sum container to me. Since Vince's family is in the restaurant business, he shared how dim sum plays a major role in Hong Kong's dining culture and overall culture.
That really big dim sum container, especially made, as far as I know, was something you turned into a piece of art.
Yes, but it has always been great working with Deokchon Samgye. They are the fifth generation of bamboo artisans in Hong Kong. And it's really fascinating to see them that they still handcraft bamboo steamers, which is not easy. Actually, a lot of the steamers these days are actually made with a mix of bamboo and metal.
What they do for us, working together with us for the exhibition, makes it even more precious. And I always love to incorporate some fun food elements into my work. I think not only experience my other half, but also just experienced by me growing up, it's always trying to treasure food.
Like even, for example, a few years ago, for Art of My Family's program, we had a two-year program related to marine conservation. So in 2020, we actually recycled over a few hundreds of seashells and turned it into artwork. And the children actually interviewed fishermen, the fifth generation of fishermen in Aberdeen.
to create artwork related to Chinese bone script culture, as well as actually exhibiting their work and taekwondo. And then the next year we worked on ideas related to the sea and seafood as well, because we also believe in sustainable seafood. The kids actually drew on Japanese postcards that we call atagami. and to express the importance of making things sustainable.
May, tell us a bit more about your artwork. Are there any particular pieces that stand out to you? Ones that you find especially memorable and would like to share with us?
Yeah, sure. One of my most memorable art pieces I created is What If, which was one of my favorite art pieces I created while studying at the University of Chicago in 2012. And it's the piece that made me the first Asian sculptor. to debut my work at the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel and Chicago Union Station.
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Chapter 8: How does May plan to inspire future generations through her art?
In my view, embracing change can be a growth opportunity, but also brings mental pressure and negativity, which can impact everyone's well-being. I agree with you that wellness is crucial for everyone, from the elderly to who have their own challenges to children who are the pillars of our future society. Often, the mental issues we face as adults can be traced back to childhood.
Something that happened in the family or during those formative years shapes how we see the world, how we behave, our mindset, and even our life and career choices. That's why I really admire your focus on intervening early in children's lives. The impact you're making goes beyond what can be measured financially. It's truly invaluable. For that, I applaud you.
Now, I would like to wrap up our interview with a question that touches on the many roles you play. You run a charity, you are a mother raising a child, you take care of your own health, and you are a teaching artist with a wide range of interests. How do you balance all these different roles and responsibilities? And more importantly, what is your life mission now and going forward?
The future is uncertain, the present is here, and the past is behind us. But when you set a goal for yourself, it's clear that you are fully committed and don't back out. So what would you say is your life mission?
My life mission is to inspire the next generation of artists and art educators. That's also why I decided to be a teaching artist, because as a teaching artist, my goal is to leverage my experiences as a working professional, but also provide a unique link between the creative process and also the art-based learning.
And that's why I always try to develop specialized curriculum approaches to engage diverse groups from people with disabilities to consultations. And in particular, actually, my charity, Art of My Family's, a whole educational philosophy involved around the three Cs, co-design, co-create, and
So, for example, the exhibition you visited in July, we actually co-designed backdrops and competition drawing outlines with university students. We co-created artwork with subdivided unit children, including the Seeds of Hope icon wall, and co-learned with other peers at the Design Institute of Lake Knox.
So I think what's special about teaching artists is that in the classroom, the other emerging artists and I actually work alongside the students. And we try to model the creative journey and also demonstrate the importance of the students. And by sharing our real-world experiences, we learn to recreate lessons, offering first-hand guidance on techniques and navigating the art world.
So I really believe that a symbolic relationship between the teaching artist practice and also the environment causes creativity, dialogue, and growth for both me and my students.
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