在本集《Making It》中，我們邀請到了著名陶藝家、教育家及大館 Touch Gallery 的創辦人 Anders Wong（黃森）。Anders 是一位不僅僅停留在技法，更深入探討藝術哲學的思想者。

從大學時期的迷惘，到經歷三年每天在 Starbucks 苦讀哲學書的「閉關修煉」，Anders 分享了他如何參透「色即是空，空即是色」，並將這種「無形」的概念轉化為他在陶藝創作與教學上的獨特心法。他坦言自己以前也是個會問「藝術是什麼」的學生，但現在他的腦袋轉速比常人快三倍，因為他學會了打破框架。

我們深入探討了他如何在大館運營三個展示空間，將生活與藝術結合，以及他如何透過「頌缽」與社區項目（如疫情期間的許願陶鈴）來療癒人心。Anders 更展現了香港人特有的「不死精神」，分享了他如何在昂貴的租金與高壓環境下，依然堅持推動本土藝術發展。

如果你是一位在創作路上感到迷惘的藝術家，或是對如何平衡藝術追求與商業生存感興趣的聽眾，Anders 充滿智慧與禪意的分享絕對能為你帶來新的啟發。

🎧 本集精彩亮點：

開始收聽，打破你對藝術的既定認知。

CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Intro: 誰是 Anders Wong?01:45 - 星期二、三的堅持：在繁忙中保持純真06:08 - 在畫廊裡做 Studio：拉近大師與學生的距離16:47 - 三年哲學苦讀：參透「色即是空」的轉捩點25:52 - 聲音的藝術：原來家裡的飯碗也能演奏？29:58 - 疫情下的藝術力量：陶鈴與回家吃飯碗41:26 - 香港藝術家的特質：租金壓力下的「不死精神」44:28 - 給政府的建議：如何零成本打造藝術城市？49:12 - 人者無敵：Kindness 作為人生與藝術的最高指導

QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE: "到了三年之後你突然覺得，什麼都是，什麼都不是... 我覺得我的腦子是走快了三倍的。" - Anders Wong "香港獨特之處是很簡單的，就是我們是不死的... 因為我們每天要承擔的是很昂貴的租金很昂貴的人工，所以你是不能輸的。" - Anders Wong "其實藝術就是一個無形的東西，你懂得去玩弄他，其實他可以是任何東西，是變形蟲。" - Anders Wong

ABOUT THE GUEST: Anders Wong（黃森）是一位香港資深陶藝家及藝術教育者。他不僅是 Touch Gallery 的創辦人，更進駐大館推動當代陶瓷藝術與生活美學。擁有深厚的藝術與哲學背景，Anders 擅長以跨界思維引導學生，並致力於透過展覽、教學與慈善活動，將藝術融入大眾生活。

ABOUT THE HOST: Alex See 致力於將香港打造成藝術家和創意人能夠茁壯成長的地方。透過《Making It》，Alex 採訪塑造文化的思想領袖，揭示在創意產業中取得成功的關鍵。

CONNECT WITH US: 訂閱以獲取更多關於創意和香港藝術圈的對話！📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Michael Rothling, a "2.0 Entrepreneur" who defies every corporate stereotype. A toy company CEO who took over the family business at 23, Michael blends the disciplined business acumen of his German father with the explosive, fashionable flair of his Italian mother.

From tufting rugs to utilizing AI for "Brain Rot" trends, Michael approaches business as a performance art. We dive deep into his philosophy of "Self Branding"—why he deliberately dresses in loud, pink outfits to sell emotion and experience rather than just products. Michael opens up vulnerably about his past battles with bullying, severe acne, and a recent "dark tunnel" of depression, explaining how art became his weapon to find light again.

We also discuss the "Kidult" market revolution, why having enemies is actually a sign of success (and fuel for your fire), and his passionate defense of Hong Kong as the ultimate safe haven for international business.

If you are an entrepreneur trying to find your unique voice, or a creative navigating the intersection of commerce and art, Michael’s colorful, fearless approach to life and business is essential listening.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Who is Michael Roffling?

02:02 - The "Entrepreneur 2.0" & Mixing Toys with Art

05:24 - Inheriting a Legacy: The German Father & Italian Mother

11:36 - The Strategy of the "Paradise Bird" (Self-Branding)

13:12 - "Money gives you a better class of enemy"

14:43 - Art Process: Tufting, Splashing, and ChatGPT

28:00 - The Problem with "Toy Art" & Mass Production

38:43 - Childhood Trauma & The "Dark Tunnel" of Depression

46:58 - Advice to a 16-Year-Old: "Don't Give a Sh*t"

51:52 - Why Hong Kong is the Safest Hub for Creatives

56:04 - A Vision for HK: Attracting International Artists

QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:

"Money can't buy your friends, but it can give you a better class of enemy... I’m a fire. And if you put gasoline on the fire, it grows more up." - Michael Roffling

"I don't give a sh*t what other people think... It is not a rebellion. It is self-branding. It is self-security to go on the street dressed like this." - Michael Roffling

"I look at the toy in the aesthetic way, not into the emotional way... Yes, I am a Santa Claus... but I see toy more in aesthetic and how it's presented on the shelf." - Michael Roffling

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Michael Rothling is a Hong Kong-based toy industry entrepreneur and artist. Taking over his family's toy manufacturing business at a young age, he has evolved the company by integrating modern trends like the "Kidult" market and AI technology. He is also a practicing artist, utilizing mediums like tufting and splash art to express his vibrant, "Paradise Bird" persona and navigate mental health challenges.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries.

CONNECT WITH US:

Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene!

📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee

Is art just a decoration, or is it a historical record of a city disappearing before our eyes?

In this episode of Making It, we sit down with Rick Lo, a Hong Kong artist and lecturer who balances the "slash" life of being both a designer and a creative artist.

Rick’s work is a love letter to a Hong Kong that is fading fast. From capturing the iconic neon signs of the 80s to the nostalgic "Airplane Olive" throwers, Rick views his role not just as a creator, but as a historian capturing the city's fleeting moments. We explore his internal tug-of-war between his rational designer brain and his desire for artistic freedom, and his latest experiments with Chinese calligraphy to break his own rules.

If you are struggling to balance a full-time job with your creative passion, or want to understand the role of art as a "buffer" in a stressful society, this conversation is for you.

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

The "Slash" Identity: Navigating the blurry line between being a client-focused designer and an expressive artist.

The Historian's Mission: Why Rick feels a responsibility to "record everything before it fades out" in Hong Kong.

Art vs. Design: How he fights the urge to make everything logical and learns to embrace the spontaneous.

The Plane Window: The story behind his viral AR artwork that captures the emotion of leaving and returning to HK.

Buffering Society: Rick’s view that art isn't just about healing, but creating a necessary "buffer zone" for stressed citizens.

The Google Doc Habit: The surprisingly rigid way Henry tracks his life to create space for creativity.

Future of HK Art: Why integrating art into daily community life is more important than expensive museums.

Start listening to rediscover the city you live in.

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Intro: Why artists need to share their stories

03:12 - Who is Rick Lo? (The Designer vs. Artist struggle)

08:26 - The "Commercial" Trap: Do people like it, or do I like it?

12:00 - Art Fairs vs. Galleries: Why strangers give the best feedback

16:40 - The "Plane Window" & "Hot Air Balloon": Capturing the migration wave

20:01 - Recording History: Why he paints neon lights & old Hong Kong

23:40 - "Airplane Olives": Nostalgia for a disappearing culture

32:05 - Visual Evolution: Moving from rigid lines to color and calligraphy

42:53 - The "Be Nice" Philosophy: Why kindness is a survival skill

46:00 - Advice to his 16-Year-Old Self: "Be Brave"

49:43 - The Google Doc: Tracking every moment of life since 2018

51:45 - Art as a "Buffer": The artist's role in Hong Kong society

54:22 - Opportunities & Challenges: Space, sponsorship, and community

QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE:

"I don't want to use healing. I want to use buffering... Having the society to have a little bit of a sense of space to think of what the room to play with." - Rick Lo

"If a city doesn't have an artist, it is kind of like a nightmare. And everything will be boring and not fun at all." - Rick Lo

"You need to get rid of the life that you have probably, and then try something new... Be brave." - Rick Lo

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Rick Lo is a Hong Kong-based artist, designer, and lecturer. He is known for his digital artworks that capture the unique urban landscape of Hong Kong, from cyberpunk tram rides to nostalgic neon signages. Blending his background in design with artistic expression, Rick aims to record the shifting identity of the city, acting as a visual historian for a landscape that is constantly evolving.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Alex See is on a mission to make Hong Kong a place where artists and creatives can thrive. Through Making It, Alex interviews the minds shaping the culture to uncover what it takes to succeed in the creative industries.

CONNECT WITH US:

Subscribe for more conversations on creativity and the Hong Kong art scene!

📸 Instagram: @makingitwithalexsee