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Choi fell in love with drawing
when she was three and she studied
visual arts in secondary school. She
took a turn to study geography and
resource management at the Chinese
University of Hong Kong and cultural
heritage at University College Lon-
don. Drawing has always been her fa-
vourite pastime.
“While I studied in London, I was
also a staff at the British Museum. I
went to work an hour early with my
own canvas and sat at the empty Par-
thenon Gallery full of Greek sculp-
tures to draw freely,” Choi recalls.
“I draw for myself, and I never in-
tend to impress anyone. Whenever I
draw, I feel like I can clear my mind
and stop thinking. Some people call
it being in the zone. Drawing is my
mental therapy. It has healing power
and warmth,” she says.
Her picture book Prejudice and
Pride about a pet cat’s journey with its
owner from life to death was released
this September. Choi says unlike most
picture books published for children,
her new book is for adults.
“We have many resources to take
care of children but not adults. I find
adults always claim to be fine when
they are not. They are so used to sup-
pressing their emotions. So I hope
they can find peace and comfort from
my book,” she says.

Up: Choi Ming-sum used to draw at the empty Parthenon Gal-
lery. Down: Choi Ming-sum released a picture book Prejudice
and Pride in September. (Photos courtesy of Choi Ming-sum)