Red Hong Yi

Red Hong Yi is a revolutionary artist. She is famed for her innovation and creativity, evident through her use of coffee, footballs and candles to bring her art to life. Red does not use paintbrushes, she calls upon the materials around her to add another layer to her designs, and infer a deeper level of meaning. When booked for events, she explores the reasoning behind her art and the importance of freedom in the quest for innovative ideas.

Focusing on celebrities and famous creators, Red uses materials at her disposal to create her works of art. She immortalised singer Jay Chou with coffee stains, recreated fellow artist Ai Weiwei with sunflower seeds and portrayed filmmaker Zhang Yimou through 2,000 socks. Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung Saan Su Kyi’s portrait was made possible with 2,000 carnations, and Red paid homage to Adele’s song Set Fire to the Rain with tealights and candles.

Arguably, Red’s most popular piece was her commissioned portrait of Jackie Chan. To celebrate his 60th birthday, she strung together thousands of chopsticks to create a hanging rendition of his face. Red’s video of the process has been viewed millions of times. Recognised for her work, she was invited by both the World Economic Forum and TED to present her artistic approach. At events, Red supplies a similar discussion, and opens audiences’ eyes to the vast potential for innovation.

Red starred in JPMorgan’s advertising campaign alongside a painting dedicated to her father, which featured a tiger portrayed through tea leaves. Her work has been showcased at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and featured in such publications as TIME and New York Times. Defined by themes of femininity and the Chinese diasporic consciousness, Red's interpretations reflect her out of the box mentality. When booked for conferences, she instils such a mindset in audiences, to free them of societal expectations.

In recognition of her work, Red was listed in the Top 12 Brilliant Malaysians list, Perspective’s 40 Under 40 and in Australia Unlimited’s 19 Future Chasers List. She received the Brilliant Artist Award from Esquire Magazine, and was named as Asia’s Most Influential Voices in 2020 by Tatler Magazine.

Previously commissioned by Google and Facebook, Red’s global reputation makes her one of the most sought after speakers on the circuit. She has been booked to speak by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Domus Academy, a reflection of her vast experience on stage. A speaker like Red will leave a resounding impact on your audience’s ability to innovate and create.