“Light is never just about what you see or making a space visible. This is the fundamental philosophy behind everything we do. For me, light is about how it makes you feel. It’s deeply human — it draws people in, lets them experience a space, and create the silent stories that stay with people long after they’ve walked away. “
Founder & Chairman, William Artists International Ltd.
When I started this company in 1976, Hong Kong was a city alive with energy and ambition. Everywhere you looked, there were opportunities waiting to be seized — and a shared conviction that anything was possible if you were willing to work for it.
William Artists actually began as an advertising creative agency. The turning point came when I saw a magazine cover showing a European shop window display, beautifully lit with track lighting and spotlights. It struck me immediately — the lighting was doing more than illuminating a product. It was shaping the viewer’s entire impression and experience. Track lighting was still relatively new at the time; its flexible mounting was revolutionising commercial spaces. And spotlights, I realised, were more than functional hardware — they were the union of engineering and art. I saw the possibilities, and from that moment I believed that the spaces we build deserve to be lit with the same care and intention with which they are designed. That was the start of our architectural lighting business.
That conviction took me to Europe — first to Germany, where I discovered Hoffmeister, BEGA, and ERCO; then to Austria for Zumtobel; and to Italy for Flos, Leucos, Fontana Arte and extend to furnitures like Cassina and Tecno. Each brought something distinct to architectural lighting, and together we introduced innovative solutions to Hong Kong — a region that had never experienced this standard. One defined by technical excellence, by minimal and timeless design, and above all, by respect for the people who would live and work within these spaces.
Over fifty years, I have watched our work become woven into the fabric of this city. From the HSBC Headquarters to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, from the Bank of China in Beijing to the M+ Museum, from hotel lobbies to public waterfronts — each project has been a conversation between light and architecture, between technology and the human experience. These are not just projects to us. They are relationships, built on trust and sustained over decades.
What makes me most proud is not any single building or accolade. It is the team we have built, the partnerships we have nurtured, and the knowledge that our work has quietly improved the way people experience the spaces around them. Because when you sculpt light with care—guide it, soften it, let it play—you do so much more than illuminate. You make people feel seen, safe, alive. The eye naturally follows light, and when we direct it thoughtfully, we’re really directing emotion, memory, connection.
As we enter our next chapter, our commitment deepens. Sustainability is not merely about how much energy you save — it is a responsibility that must be understood across the entire integrated ecosystem of lighting. From the way we source and manufacture, to how light is designed and applied in architecture and cities, to end-of-life responsibility for the products we specify — and further still, to education and policy alignment that will shape the industry for generations. This is a commitment we have embraced from the very beginning, and one that now guides every decision we make.
To our partners, our clients, and the communities we serve: thank you for walking this path with us. The best light is still ahead.
