Exiled Hong Kong Teacher Tries to Adapt to New Life in Taiwan

(Left) The third edition of Wong’s book “Allowed Me to Keep On Painting” was published in May, 2021. (Right) Wong expressed his loneliness in the picture, that he had to live on his own in Taiwan and he felt homesick. Dec, 2022. Courtesy of @vawongsir

A former Hong Kong secondary school teacher and political cartoonist forced into exile began a new project to help adapt to life in Taiwan. His work captured the helplessness and hope of Hong Kong people living away from their homes.

In early 2020,  former secondary school general education and visual arts teacher Wong Sir, who goes by vawongsir on Instagram, received an anonymous complaint when he published a current affairs cartoon he created himself on social media, resulting in the school’s refusal to renew his contract.