Study Buddy (Explorer): Old Master Q comic strip’s supporting characters celebrated in exhibition

[2] Wong – known by his pen name Wong Chak, his eldest son Joseph’s Chinese name – died in 2017, aged 93. But his son has made sure his father’s legacy lives on, taking over his creative reins in 1995, the year Wong retired.

[3] Quiet Gallery HK, in Central’s Landmark Atrium, celebrated 60 years of the mischievous protagonist last month with an exhibition titled “Old Master Q, ‘Side C’ Exhibition” that pays tribute to the comic strip’s supporting characters.

[4] Despite their secondary roles, Old Master Q’s vast network of friends – about 60 – are equally brilliant. There’s Big Potato, Mr Chin, Mr Chiu and Miss Chen (his girlfriend), pets, monsters – and even aliens.

[5] The exhibition featured life-size prints of these characters and Joseph’s reinterpretation of them through various media such as painting, sculpture and illustration.

[6] Interactive elements featured excerpts from more than six decades of the comics and gave a sense of the personalities that made these figures so memorable.

[7] “Old Master Q comic strips played a huge role in Hong Kong pop culture throughout the late 20th century,” said Quiet Gallery’s founder, Howard Lee. “The characters were humorous and silly yet captured everyday life in Hong Kong at the time.” People of all ages could relate to the antics of Old Master Q and his friends, he added.

[8] “[The comic strip] poked fun at social issues while bringing levity and promoting local culture. By spotlighting these important yet oft-ignored roles through various presentations, the exhibition aimed to entertain visitors and also shine new light on the richness and humour these secondary characters brought to the Old Master Q comic legend.”

[9] It’s important to keep Wong Chak and his comic strip in the public imagination, said Lee. “Wong Chak not only created iconic characters but chronicled six decades of Hong Kong’s transformation. Preserving his comics in exhibitions keeps that cultural heritage alive for new generations. It shows how humour can bring people together across divisions.”

[10] “By celebrating Wong Chak’s contributions, we honour both the comic strips and their role in shaping Hong Kong’s identity and values, and put a spotlight on local creativity.”
Source: South China Morning Post, November 27

1. Paragraph 1 describes …
A. a popular comic strip.
B. the lives of the working class in Hong Kong.
C. a comic strip creator’s childhood.
D. comics strips created in the 1960s.

2. In which year did Alfonso Wong produce the last Old Master Q comic?

3. Who does the “mischievous protagonist” in paragraph 3 refer to?

4. Decide whether the following statements are True, False or the information is Not Given in paragraph 4. (4 marks)
(i) Mr Chin and Mr Chiu are neighbours.
(ii) Old Master Q is married.
(iii) Old Master Q has two dogs and one cat.
(iv) The comic strip sometimes features imaginary creatures.

5. Find a word in paragraph 5 that means “creating something in a way that expresses one’s new ideas about it”.

6. How long did the Old Master Q comic strips run for according to paragraph 6?

7. According to paragraphs 7 and 8, Old Master Q comics appeal to people of all ages because …
A. they reflect everyday life in Hong Kong.
B. the characters were silly and funny.
C. they made fun of social problems in a lighthearted way.
D. all of the above

8. In paragraph 8, which of the following is NOT a secondary character?
A. Big Potato
B. Old Master Q
C. Miss Chen
D. Mr Chiu ABCD

9. What is the aim of celebrating Wong Chak’s contributions according to paragraph 10?

1. A
2. 1995
3. Old Master Q
4. (i) NG; (ii) F; (iii) NG; (iv) T
5. reinterpretation
6. more than six decades/more than 60 years
7. D
8. B
9. It is to honour the comic strips and their role in shaping Hong Kong’s identity and values, and to put a spotlight on local creativity.