Spanish painter Marqués de Jadraque—who was commissioned to paint Pope John Paul II in 1982—traveled to Hong Kong with the specific intent of capturing the city through his brush. Upon arrival, he immersed himself in the local fabric, wandering through Sham Shui Po to source raw canvas, which he then stretched and prepared with gesso by hand. Armed with his materials, he set out to observe Hong Kong's multifaceted landscapes, translating its energy and atmosphere through his distinct pictorial vision.

The result is a cohesive body of work depicting the sea in both misty and sunlit conditions, the city rising above the bustling chaos of Victoria Harbour, and the scattered sampans and secluded bays that define Hong Kong's coastal character.

Born in Palencia, Spain, in 1961, Marqués de Jadraque completed his formal training in painting and sculpture in Spain before relocating to the United States, where he established his studio in Southern California and studied at Otis College of Art and Design. He currently divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and London, UK.