The Best Kind of Exhaustion: Reflecting on HKICS 11 with a Full Heart❤️

My booth setup at HKICS11

There is a very specific kind of physical and mental exhaustion that comes after a big exhibition. Your body is completely drained, but your mind is still racing with excitement. That is exactly where I am right now after wrapping up the Hong Kong Illustration and Creative Show (HKICS 11). Underneath all the tiredness, I just feel an overwhelming surge of motivation, energy, and gratitude.

It took a great amount of time and work to prepare for this show. By the time Day 1 arrives, you are already running on fumes and the real anxieties start creeping in: Will people like the new work? For those who don't know my work yet, will they get my style, my creative thinking, and the sense of humour I put into my art? And, realistically, am I even going to be able to cover the cost of my booth?

But the moment the doors open, everything shifts. Every time someone stopped by my booth, a wave of fresh energy hit me. Meeting people in person completely rewrites the exhaustion.

Awesome crowd at the HKICS this year!

One of my favourite parts of the weekend was simply catching the spontaneous reactions at the booth. Whether you were flipping through the print racks, looking through the postcards, or sorting through the sticker bins, hearing a sudden burst of laughter or catching a look of genuine surprise was incredibly rewarding.

That exact reaction—laughter and surprise—is exactly what I want my art to bring to an audience. Seeing that connection happen face to face was the ultimate validation for all those quiet hours in the studio.

I am also still in shock to say this: every single one of my hand-painted wooden magnets found a home. Watching people appreciate the hours of detail that went into each tiny piece of wood, and buying them until the display board was completely bare, is a feeling I will never forget.

Whether you picked up a single sticker, a postcard, an art print, or a handmade magnet, seeing your face light up gave me an immediate second wind. You completely answered all those quiet worries I had before the show opened. You got the humour, you connected with the style, and you showed me that putting my work out there is worth every single late night.

These are the 28 wooden magnet I painted and sold at HKICS 11!

As an illustrator, you spend so much time creating art in a bubble. To suddenly be face to face with people who genuinely appreciate the time and love put into your work is a great feeling.

To everyone who stopped to chat, took photos, or brought a piece of my art home, thank you for your support.

Support looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s a large art print, and sometimes it’s a single sticker. But to an independent creator, it all means the same thing. It keeps us going, validates the hard work, and quiets the self-doubt.

I came into this weekend nervous and exhausted, but I am leaving it inspired, humbled, and eager to get back to my drawing desk.

Thank you, HKICS 11, and thank you to everyone who made this weekend unforgettable. I can’t wait to show you what I create next!