Simon Yam: Luminance in Motion
Leah Ermann
At Maison & Objet, Simon Yam presented Luminance, a multidisciplinary exhibition shaped by instinct, observation, and collaboration. Known for his more than 50 year career as a Hong Kong actor, Yam has long worked beyond the screen. In addition, he develops a visual practice across photography, painting, and mixed media. Luminance brings these disciplines together while opening them outward. Alongside his own works, Yam collaborated with designers and creative studios who translated his imagery into fashion, textiles, and objects. For example, he developed a hand crafted rug with Tai Ping Carpets. In this conversation with IRK Magazine, Yam reflects on his creative journey, the role of instinct, and the value of staying curious.
IRK: Your career spans acting, photography, and now painting. How do these different forms of expression influence each other in your creative life?
Simon Yam: I think I have a strong sense of observation and love seeing the world through my eyes. When I was a student, I was particularly fascinated by shapes and lines. After we got a color television, I became interested in observing the colors on the screen. Performance, photography, and painting are all forms of visual expression. Therefore, I hope to convey my reflections on life, love, and existence through images. No matter what form of creation it is, it always brings me inspiration and growth.
IRK: Film is a deeply collaborative process. How have you learned to trust other creatives with your vision, both on set and in your artistic practice today?
Simon Yam: Mutual respect is the foundation, and working with different people always brings me fresh perspectives and ideas. I hope to always stay curious and hungry, with an endless flow of imagination and creativity.
IRK: Your photographic and painted works feel very emotional and intuitive. How important is instinct in your creative process?
Simon Yam: Photography and painting are things I do whenever I feel like it. When I see something beautiful, I capture it with my camera, and when I paint, my brush follows my feelings in the moment. I believe the best form of expression is straightforward and pure. Just like how some things are naturally simple, without elaborate decoration, yet possess the most genuine kind of beauty. I love this kind of beauty — free, effortless, and authentic.
IRK: After more than 50 years in the public eye, what still excites you about creating new work today?
Simon Yam: I love discovering new things, so I’ve been experimenting with different forms of fusion. For example, I combine photography with painting, or present my artwork in the form of carpets and embroidery. These kinds of creative collisions spark many ideas and inspirations for me. As a result, these explorations keep me feeling excited and full of anticipation.
IRK: When viewers encounter your work in a gallery setting, what do you hope they feel or take away from it?
Simon Yam: Everyone’s feelings are certainly different. I hope that when people view my work, they can bring in their own thoughts and perspectives to form their own understanding. Perhaps it may even inspire them or prompt some reflection — that is the original intention behind my creations.
Craft and Collaboration in Simon Yam’s Luminance
At its core, Luminance is about connection. Between image and material, artist and collaborator, work and viewer. By working with designers across fashion, textiles, and craft, Simon Yam allows his art to take on new forms. Guided by a hands on approach, Luminance places craftsmanship at its centre. Each collaboration is carefully made, emphasising texture, material, and process. Through this focus on the handmade, the exhibition gains a sense of permanence. Objects are designed not just to be seen, but to be held used, and lived with.
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Leah Ermann is a South African Fashion Business student whose identity and vision are deeply rooted in the landscapes, cultures, and contradictions of her home country. Growing up in South Africa meant being constantly aware of extremes. These realities shaped her sensitivity to the world around her and challenged her understanding of fashion as something far beyond surface-level beauty. In a place where many people are fortunate simply to own a pair of shoes, Leah learned early on that clothing carries meaning, privilege, and responsibility.
Alongside this awareness grew a profound connection to nature and conservation, spending a lot of time in the bush deepened her understanding of the impact humans have on endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Leah sees fashion as a silent but powerful language, a way to express identity, values, and cultural stories without words.
She is driven by a desire to explore the deeper meanings behind collections, to learn from new cultures, and to use fashion as a platform to amplify South African creativity, resilience, and humanity. Ultimately, her goal is to create work that not only reflects where she comes from whilst learning about other cultures, but also contributes to change, honoring both people and the natural world that shaped her.
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