Nervous hands hover above shiny paper. Bottles make a quiet sound when they hit each other. Someone says quietly, “Should I just pour it?” Someone else says, “Let it do its thing!” This isn’t a normal painting lesson. This is The Tingology art made with alcohol ink, and if you blink, you’ll miss the magic.
Last Saturday, people from all walks of life were at a room in Sheung Wan—strangers, professionals, and bored bankers. What did they do first? Complete perplexity. A bolder person pours a single bright red stripe straight from the bottle. A drop of isopropyl alcohol makes it run over the page like a firecracker, spreading out and not listening.
Hong Kong is crazy. Each piece of ink is a small act of defiance against domination. People of all skill levels, from artists to grandmothers, are giving up their watercolor sets. There are never two paintings that are the same. The ink moves around like it’s alive, skittering, pooling, merging, and then pushing apart. In just a few seconds, you can see blue waves moving during a thunderstorm or blush-pink petals budding on white paper. Mistakes are only new paths that you didn’t foresee.
It has a mesmerizing quality about it. How colors blend together, or how a single puff through a straw changes shapes in ways you can’t even imagine. It feels like treatment that you can put on the wall. The only rule is to “embrace the mess.” Some people enjoy the excitement of losing control, while others just like the chance to get messy.
This independence is shown in Hong Kong’s workshops. There isn’t a strict teacher with a pointer; instead, you get a box of options and a lot of “what ifs.” Someone talks about how their three-year-old made something that looked better than what they made. Another person says, “I ruined three sheets, but I found something cool on the fourth.”
Galleries are starting to get it. People lined up outside to see riotous blasts of sapphire, emerald, and gold at recent shows. People who collect are starting to notice. Would you hang an artwork that shows chaos but also makes you feel calm? A lot of people answer yes because it shows them beauty that can emerge without planning.
What important is the flame it sparks in normal people, not just in the galleries. People who work in offices come in tense and leave with big smiles and swirly paintings. One person said that alcohol ink helped her get over a winter grief she had never been able to put into words.
Is it a trend? Maybe. Is it strong? Definitely. You don’t need to be talented to get less order and more amazement in Hong Kong. All you need is a bottle of ink, a sense of adventure, and a desire to let go. Every drop is a challenge. Don’t smile when the color goes crazy.