Nostalgia gripped Hong Kong this August as comic artist Alphonso Wong Ka-hei’s Old Master Q 2.0 comic series went under the hammer at a Sotheby’s online auction recently for an astonishing HK$650,000, five times over its original estimate!
In the early 1960s, Alphonso Wong Ka-hei began his Old Master Q comic series, which went on to enjoy a meteoric rise to fame, thanks to the social and cultural narrative of the series. His legendary characters, Old Master Q, Big Potato, Mr. Chin and Miss Chan became a symbol of Hong Kong’s culture, forming the collective childhood memory of entire generations. In 1995, Alphonso’s son, Professor Joseph Wong, took up the mantle and founded the Old Master Q Company.
The exhibition showcased original works by both generations of the Wong family, including Alphonso Wong’s early colour covers and comic strips. Jonathan Wong, Gallery Director, says: ‘We are fortunate enough to present the earliest existing Old Master Q cover artwork on our online auction platform, allowing participation from collectors and fans around the world. Through version 2.0 of the series exhibition, we hope to express our sincerest tribute to Alphonso Wong, and to share with the audience the nostalgia of old Hong Kong.”