"Cartoons", as animated films were called decades ago, are childhood memories for many. The characters and stories in the films roam freely in imaginative young minds, so depending on individual life experiences, these memories may produce similar yet diverse interpretations and emotions. Artist Lam Yau Sum and designer Hong Ko take their favourite childhood cartoon characters as their source of inspiration and give new artistic interpretations to the timeless characters, which are bubbly, courageous, wise, and full of stamina. By recreating them, Lam and Ko hope to revive this childhood energy and strike a chord in the hearts of the audience as we revisit the good old days together.

Growing up in the countryside, sitting under a tree waiting for his favourite cartoon programme to start on the TV screen – these are some of the recollections that form the unique childhood memories of Lam Yau Sum. Children living in the city today, in contrast, cannot spend a minute away from their phones; they are so immersed in the electronic world that they seldom embrace nature. In view of this, Lam gives discarded electronic parts a new lease of life, creating scenic landscapes with them. The juxtaposition of distinctly different childhood memories of the two generations forms the hidden message behind his art. Hong Ko grew up in Hong Kong, and some cartoon characters were his childhood heroes. He uses popular emojis to bring back these heroic icons, who still live in the hearts of countless children. Through code conversions, he brings back these characters before our very eyes in full glory and recalls the power and resonance they gave us in days of yore. The quotable lines from classics in animation feature films might have been lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but they are a source of inspiration for the artists. Lam uses his signature metallic landscape sculptures for his Socket Tree series, in which the landscapes serve as metaphorical references for the sensibilities and personae of the cartoon characters. Ko deliberately co-creates with an autistic child Zhu Yuchen, and the artworks exude honesty, optimism and positive energy. The familiar faces and their heart-warming excerpts are like a spark of inspiration, which remains in our hearts, illuminating and guiding us in our pursuit of love and courage in life.