Kevin Poon

Kevin Poon (潘世亨) is a Chinese entrepreneur, art collector, curator, gallerist, designer, DJ, tastemaker, and investor. He is the founder of WOAW Gallery, distribution company District, and shareholder of CLOT, JUICE, and some of Hong Kong’s most stylish F&B hotspots, including Elephant Grounds, Morty’s Deli, La Rambla by Catalunya, WagyuMafia Hong Kong, The Diplomat, Kyle & bain, The Hawk & Aster, Yatcha Bar, Margo, Sushi Mamoru, and the upcoming Forty-Five Landmark.

Poon first started his entrepreneurial journey with the establishment of CLOT and JUICE. His wide exposure and footprint in the art & culture, lifestyle, fashion, and hospitality scene has led him to be one of the country’s top cultural trendsetters. He is recognized as one of Asia's Most Influential HK by Tatler HK in 2022, Prestige 40 Under 40 in 2019, and is frequently mentioned in multiple publications, including South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Channel News Asia Luxury, Highsnobiety, Hypebeast, Vogue, Tatler, Jing Daily, ARTNews, the Artling, Artsy, and many more.

As a curator, Poon is featured in a wide array of exhibitions and shows. As a gallerist, he hosted multiple art shows in WOAW Gallery with the most exciting artist, including Koichi Sato, Andrew Englander, Charlie Roberts, James Goss, Kang Haoxian, in Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore. Poon sees WOAW Gallery as more than a space to exhibit artworks, but also a medium to influence and contribute to society as a whole. WOAW hosts and curates in some of the most prominent venues and art fairs, including Contemporary Art Now Ibiza, Untitled Art Miami Beach, UNSCHEDULED Hong Kong, ART021 Shanghai, and Taipei Dangdai.  

Poon often participates in charitable work and organizes such events in his multiple outlets. He not only supports art and cultural causes in his area, but also notions of equality, medical causes, and the community. His F&B venture Elephant Grounds participated in UNICEF’s #ittasteslikelove campaign to support nursing mothers as one of the breastfeeding-friendly cafes. He also worked with the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation (HKBCF) in WOAW Gallery’s show with Jon Burgerman to support blood cancer patients and their families.

Early life and education

Poon was born in Hong Kong in 1981. His parents parted ways when he was young. His father worked in the construction industry, which required him to go on regular business trips. Poon was taught to work towards his goals and ambition early on.

Poon moved to Chicago in the United States when he was three years old.^[1] He returned to Hong Kong when he was five briefly before moving to Vancouver.^[1] Returning to Hong Kong again, Poon studied at the Hong Kong International School before moving to North America after graduating high school to attend Pepperdine University in California.^[1][2] While in Los Angeles, Poon worked as an intern for Interscope Records when he was 19 years old and later earned a degree in finance from Pepperdine.^[3] He returned to Hong Kong in 2003 to start his own business with Edison Chen, creating CLOT.

Personal life

Poon announced his marriage to Chinese-Scottish model Fiona McLeish in October 2020, and later welcomed their first son, Calihan Ocean Poon, in July 2022.

Career

2003 – Present: DJ and Music Production

At the age of 19, Poon’s passion for the music industry led him to intern for Interscope Records while residing in Los Angeles. After spending a few years delving into music, he built his name as a DJ and performed in some of the most prominent venues, including Le Baron Shanghai, and worked with numerous luxury fashion houses including Fendi, Moncler, Palm Angels, sacai and many more.

Most recently, he was featured in the GY + FRIENDS line-up in Hong Kong’s most iconic nightclub, Dragon-i. Alongside its founder Gilbert Yeung, he was one of very few to be invited to the opening of their brand new room, Mr Cameron in late 2022.

2003 – Present: CLOT and JUICE

Poon and childhood friend Edison Chen founded fashion label CLOT in 2003 shortly after Poon graduated from Pepperdine University.^[4][5] Aside from fashion, CLOT has tapped into various aspects of youth culture including music, art and design.^[6][5][7] In 2004, Poon opened JUICE, a retail store specializing in designer streetwear and accessories.^[8] CLOT products have a strong presence in the numerous JUICE stores located across Asia.^[6] By 2006, CLOT had made its entry into the American marketplace.^[5] The brand has announced plans to continue its expansion to reach markets in major fashion hubs across the globe including New York City, Los Angeles, Paris and London.^[5]

The CLOT label promotes collaboration between Eastern and Western styles. CLOT has collaborated with brands such as Nike, VLONE, sacai, Fear of God, Adidas, Converse, Lacoste, Headporter, Pepsi, and with American hip-hop artist Kanye West.^[4][9][10] The brand developed a shoe for Nike called the “Kiss of Death” which marked the first ever collaboration between Nike and a Hong Kong-based label.^[4]

2011 – Present: District Distribution

Recognizing an increasing demand for international lifestyle products in the Asia market, Poon launched District Distribution LLC, a distribution company in early 2011. District Distribution focuses on distributing accessories to over 100 retailers and 300 individual shops, such as bags, gadgets and footwear. Billionaire Boys Club, Icecream, Native Shoes, Malbon Golf, Suicoke and Kangol are some of the notable brands under District. These brands are now distributed throughout Hong Kong, China and selected cities in South-East Asia.

In 2022, they brought Pharrell Williams and Nigo’s brainchild, Billionaire Boys Club to Belowground, Landmark after a 12-year hiatus in Hong Kong.

2011 – Present: All-round Cultural Trendsetter and Early Days in Art

Poon’s influence in music and fashion gradually made its mark and established his name in hosting the most exclusive events in town. One of the biggest headliners over the years is the Hong Kong leg of the Hennessy V.S.O.P Kanye West ‘Touch the Sky’ tour in 2006. It was West's only Asian stop on the world tour and his first time performing in Hong Kong.

In 2013, deemed the most acclaimed music festival at the time, Poon and live events producer Alex Ng co-organized Blohk Party, Hong Kong's first and biggest hip-hop music festival in West Kowloon Cultural District.  The one-day music festival is curated by Pharrell Williams featuring an impressive line-up of DJs and bands, including Pharrell Williams himself, Pusha T, Busy P, Steve Aoki and Justice, along with local names including Edison Chen with MC Yan & Chef, LMF, 24 Herbs, Josie & The Uni Boys and Skibs the Kid. The festival also hosts a large range of events in parallel, including the hippest food establishments, and exclusive fashion pop-ups by emerging and established brands.

Following his growing interests in art and culture, Poon founded WOAW! (World of Amazing Wonders) in Gough Street in 2013. The multifunctional lifestyle concept store and gallery featured the hottest brands at the time, including Case Studyo, Medicom Toy and more. The store later moved to their first dedicated gallery space plus retail store around Star Street, Wan Chai in 2019. In 2021, Poon officially transformed WOAW into its current gallery form, when they opened their second permanent space in Queen’s Road Central Hong Kong.

2013 - Present: Early F&B Ventures, Elephant Grounds

Poon's interests in the F&B industry led him to co-found Elephant Ground with Gerald Li in 2013. The café and brunch destination is among the first in Hong Kong to focus on quality specialty coffee and the “Coffee n Chill” culture, attracting a community of lifestyle enthusiasts and coffee lovers. As it gained popularity, they expanded further into the hottest locations in town, including Star Street in Wan Chai, Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay, Mid-Levels and K11 Musea.

In June 2019, The symbolic Elephant Ground brand opened its overseas franchise branch in Manila, Philippines. In the same year, they further expanded into the Chinese mainland with outposts scattered around Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.

In 2022, Elephant Grounds opened its flagship store along Hollywood Road which houses an in-house roastery, specializing in roasting their premium single-origin varieties, and an artisan bakery kitchen in its 7000 sq ft space.

2016 – Present: Leading Nation and Recent Investments in F&B

Following multiple successful endeavors, Poon and Li co-founded Leading Nation in 2016, a Hong Kong-based hospitality group that manages some of the most unique and original F&B concepts in Hong Kong and beyond. Over the years, their portfolio has grown rapidly and sizeably. As of now, Leading Nation represents and manages 13 dining concepts including Elephant Grounds, Morty’s, La Rambla by Catalunya, WAGYUMAFIA, YAKINIKUMAFIA, Mashi No Mashi, The Diplomat, Margo, Kyle & Bain, Sushi Mamoru, The Hawk & Aster, Alfred's and the latest Forty-Five Landmark.

In 2019, Poon introduced The Diplomat in H Code, a speakeasy concept bar serving small-batch wines, vintage liquors, and expertly crafted cocktails. The intimate space hosts only 18 guests, reminiscent of an age-old gastropub. The speakeasy occasionally features artwork by contemporary artists in the whimsical space. Two years later in 2021, The Diplomat is named #20 in Asia's 50 Best Bars.

In 2021, they brought Margo and Kyle & Bain, an adjacent speakeasy bar, to The Galleria, Central. The intimate restaurant serves elevated American cuisine inspired by the diverse New York culture while the bar calls Martini lovers to the refined neighborhood gastropub.

In August 2022, he opened The Hawk & Aster, the first-ever Grand Cafés-style restaurant in Hong Kong for all-day dining catered to all occasions. Later in November, he introduced Yatchabar, offering premium sake, and shōchū alongside an izakaya-style menu by Hisato Hamada.

Poon’s latest establishment,  Forty-Five is set to be a new multi-concept venue spanning across two floors in the Landmark, featuring five different concepts – The Merchants, Kaen Teppanyaki, Cardinal Point, The Cristal Room. The space also the exclusive houses private members-only social club, the Gloucester Arts Club which hosts events and experiences.

2019 - Present: WOAW Gallery

Poon’s love for art and passion as a collector inspired his establishment of the WOAW Gallery in 2019. Named after the initials of World of Amazing Wonders (WOAW), the contemporary gallery is a dynamic, flexible, and multifaceted hub for emerging artists and creatives to exhibit their works of art in Hong Kong and beyond.

They have worked with some of the most exciting artists, including Drew Englander, Jon Burgerman, Jake Sheiner, Baldur Helgason, Willem Hoeffnagel, Bianca Nemelc, Shannon Peel, Jon Burgerman,  James Goss, En Iwamura, Sun-Kyo Park, Felix Treadwell, Jordy Kerwick, Michael Lau, Charlie Roberts, Sun Woo, Sean Gannon, Sam Friedman, Charlie Roberts, Cristina Banban, Koichi Sato and counting.

One of its headliners is the Hot Concrete: LA to HK with K11 Musea and Sow & Tailor in 2021. This is the first major group exhibition featuring 30 Los Angeles-based artists from different generations in Hong Kong, including Greg Ito, Peter Shire, Mario Ayala, Kara Joslyn, Darren & Candice Romanelli, and many more. Their artworks serve as a reminder for the audience in Hong Kong to reflect on their personal histories, their relationship to the city, and the communities that shaped it.

Later in Untitled Art Miami Beach 2022, they presented Korean American artist Stickymonger’s “Eat, Play, and Whatever” solo exhibition featuring one of her most coveted “Last Supper” series consisting of 5 art pieces. The artist's work is sold out on high demand early on in the morning of VIP preview day, at a record-breaking $48,000 each.

The same year in 2022, he also presented Jon Burgerman’s first Sesame Street Collection “Friendly Neighbours” featuring more than 40 humorous artworks shortly after the show. The exhibition is also a charitable act where 20% proceeds of the exhibition went to the Hong Kong Blood Cancer Foundation (HKBCF) to help support blood cancer patients and their families.  

WOAW Gallery set foot in its largest venue in Beijing's iconic Blanc Art Space as 2022 closes. They have featured work by Charlie Roberts, Jon Burgerman, and Kang Haoxian.

Most recently in 2023, he brought a new vision to life and expanded to the central hub of Southeast Asia, Singapore. As a debut show of the gallery, he personally assembled a dynamic selection of pieces that echoes the ethos of WOAW Gallery – to welcome industry partners and artists into a tight-knit community that marries both the professional and personal. The inaugural show, As Friends & Partners, is set as a statement to establish a closer connection with both emerging and established artists, as well as elevate artists’ dedication to their craft.

References

This page was last edited on 12 July 2023, at 17:55