Self-Taught Artist Steven Tang and His Food ArtCEFR B1
1 Nov 2025
Adapted from Hong Kong Free Press, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Jeanne Rose Gomez, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
Steven Tang is a Hong Kong artist who creates realistic food drawings. He is self-taught and began his artistic journey by sharing his art on Instagram, attracting thousands of followers. His drawings include traditional local dishes, and he aims to capture the essence of foods that might fade away over time.
Tang uses colored pencils to draw, sometimes using real food as reference but creatively altering the images to enhance their appeal. He has participated in art exhibitions and wants to save the memory of dishes he loves that may not always be available.
Although Tang enjoys teaching art, he finds it challenging to balance his studio work and classes. He is not threatened by AI but believes in building a personal brand to stand out. Tang plans to hold his first solo exhibition and revive his YouTube channel to share knowledge with others.
Difficult words
- artist — A person who creates art.
- drawings — Pictures made with lines or colors.
- essence — The most important quality of something.
- pencils — Tools used for writing or drawing.
- exhibitions — Events where art is displayed.
- Instagram — A platform for sharing photos and videos.
- memory — The ability to remember things.
- challenging — Difficult to do or understand.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think is the importance of preserving traditional foods?
- How does social media influence an artist's career today?
- Why might artists feel threatened by AI?
- In what ways can art exhibitions benefit artists?
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