Steps on the stair to success by Gavin Au Ka Yiu

Gavin Au Ka Yiu, Title: Steps on the stair to success, one participant, courage and a staircase, Interactive installation, 2011, copyright Gavin Au Ka Yiu

It's our belief that all artistic expression and result (aka artwork) comes out of the artists' experiences and small daily incidents. Hong Kong based artist Gavin Au Ka Yiu through his website shared with us, an incident his girlfriend had a month ago...

One day, she went to see her family doctor. She has seen that doctor since she was a little girl. She went to see that doctor again as usual.

The doctor asked her “Dear, you already growth up, do you have a boyfriend now?”

She said ”Yes.”

Doctor asked “Who is he?”

She said “He is an artist.”

The doctor and nurse laughed together.

Then the doctor asked “Silly girl, why you choose an artist to be your boyfriend? You’re still young, you have many options.”

My girlfriend smiled but didn’t answer. She came to me and share this experience with me.

And the result is the artwork above

The artist in his note for the "Steps on the stair to success", mentions:

In Hong Kong, when people hear you are engaged in artistic creation, they probably will say ‘There is no way to do art, or you will only become famous and success after you die.’

Artists really need to die in order to succeed; however, I perceive this death as a process to put down all the earthly chains, to throw in the passion and everything in life into art whole- heartedly. Under this state of mind, you will be essentially not far away from success. One should always make a move to accomplish anything, it will get us closer to the stage of success. Sometimes, we may not be able to see the path ahead clearly but as long as we have the courage to step forward, we will succeed one day.

Like this staircase leading to the opposite shore, there seems no way out but only upwards. But when you put your first step on the stair, the entire structure and the center of gravity will change because of your intrusion. The other end of the staircase becomes the way out through to the destiny.

Want to succeed? Make a step forward and you’ll see the path / way out.