Canvas of Our Every Emotion

Hong Kong-based artist, Kos Cos’ work goes well beyond the conventional – he adds movement and energy through vivid colours and bold brushstrokes

- Julia Roxan

In the golden age of hand-drawn signage, Hong Kong-based artist, Kos Cos turned his father’s agency workshop into a personal playground, studying and practising his brush skills after school. Renowned for portraits that are distinctive through their use of vivid colours and bold brushstrokes, Kos adds movement and energy to create dynamic pieces of work.

You were born in 1974 in Sri Lanka and belonged to an artistic family. What memories do you have of that time?

I consider myself lucky to have been born to my parents. I had a normal childhood growing up in the suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka during the late ’70s to mid-’80s. Life was slow-paced and simple – with lots of greenery and nature. In my mid-teens, we moved to Mount Lavinia, which is a coastal town: that’s where I developed my relationship with the sea. I still love the sea and I’m currently living close to the sea! I had a bunch of great friends while growing up: playing cricket was our favourite pastime.