Artist Steven Tang draws Hong Kong foodCEFR A2
1 Nov 2025
Adapted from Hong Kong Free Press, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Jeanne Rose Gomez, Unsplash
Steven Tang is a 26-year-old artist in Hong Kong who draws familiar local dishes with coloured pencils. He began in 2018 and his Instagram page now has more than 45,000 followers. Many viewers praised the realistic look and said the pictures made them "drool".
Tang is self-taught and started as a foodie. His first work to gain attention was a bowl of Yunnan-style rice noodles from the TamJai chain in 2018. He has since taken part in group exhibitions and was featured in Art Central in 2023 and the Affordable Art Fair last year.
He sometimes uses photographs for reference and sometimes brings food to his studio to arrange an ideal version. He changes form, colour and composition so the drawing looks pleasing, and he also records tastes from places that have closed.
Difficult words
- artist — A person who creates art.
- drawings — Pictures made with a pencil or pen.drawing
- realistic — Looks very much like something real.
- food — What we eat.
- dishes — Types of food served in a container.
- followers — People who support someone on social media.
- local — From the nearby area.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think food art is popular?
- How does food influence culture in your opinion?
- What might happen if local dishes disappear?
