Sabrina interview: Hong Kong model-turned-singer Sabrina (Cheung Man-saa, 張蔓莎) says her debut single draws on ukiyo-e and the idea of fleeting moments as creative fuel.
Ukiyo-e and a love of Japanese art
On days when Hong Kong recorded its highest September temperature on record, according to the Hong Kong Observatory, Sabrina and a production team spent hours shooting outdoors under a blazing sun. She wore a bob wig for the set dressed as Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and smiled through the long takes.
“Ukiyo-e is a clear expression of Japanese art, you can see it everywhere, even in diners and public bathhouses,” Sabrina said. She noted that Japanese culture, including animation, has a strong visual identity and that Hayao Miyazaki’s films were among the first works that caught her attention as a child.
Sabrina pointed to the Meiji-era shin hanga movement led by Hiroshi Yoshida as one influence that Miyazaki and other artists have drawn from, describing landscapes that range from quietly spare to lavishly ornate.
Ikebana, focus and creative meditation
That sense of transient beauty connects to other Japanese arts Sabrina practices, especially ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arranging. She called ikebana a form of meditation, a slow act that heals by forcing focused attention.
“Every flower has its own beauty and meaning, and when you arrange them they become a new work of art,” she said. “It is not something you finish in five minutes; it can take an hour or two. We all need moments to focus on one thing and heal ourselves.”
A year of singles, inspired by fleeting life moments
Sabrina interview: this year Sabrina released her debut single 瞬間的 (“A Moment”) written by herself, followed quickly by two more tracks, “See You Then” and “Not So Bad.” She said the lyrics for “A Moment” came from small, everyday flashes of feeling, especially the first rush of falling for someone.
“The ‘moment’ in the song is not about everything vanishing, it is about that first feeling, that instant of falling in love,” she said. “Sometimes that instant can last in your head for a long time, like watching a beautiful set of fireworks.”
Sabrina described how chance experiences feed her songwriting. The second single, “See You Then,” featuring Lewsz, was written after she heard an emergency alert and felt a doomsday urgency that became the seed for a song about enjoying life before it ends.
Creation as release
“Creation gives me an outlet; if I am not creating I feel stifled,” Sabrina said. She described everyday life, friends’ comments, and small observations as frequent prompts for new material.
She recalled a story idea set on a building’s back staircase, where neighbors feel close but remain out of sight. “Writing about love is easier sometimes, but the back stair idea felt strange and stuck for a while, until I stepped away and did other things. When I returned the idea made sense,” she said.
Film, aesthetics and female filmmakers
Sabrina said she has been studying women filmmakers and cited Sofia Coppola as a major influence. She praised Coppola’s use of costume and camera to build mood in films such as Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides.
“I love how Coppola uses clothing and camera language to tell a story, and how music becomes a means of communication between characters,” she said. “Her films feel romantic and delicate, and I admire that approach.”
Style, vintage and personal icons
Sabrina interview: fashion is central to her public image, and she favors vintage silhouettes such as corsets. Her video for the new single features a Vivienne Westwood archive corset she chose herself.
She said her mother was the earliest influence on her taste, describing her mother as someone who cared about color and coordination. Sabrina also named singer Faye Wong as a style reference, praising Wong for her self-knowledge and confident clothing choices.
What’s next
As the interview wrapped, Sabrina said she plans to focus on music and take a steady, step-by-step approach to future projects. “I have many plans, but the consistency is that I want to keep building that imaginative space in my work,” she said.
Half an hour of conversation displayed a blend of gentleness and practicality. Sabrina’s music, fashion choices, and visual ideas aim to map private fantasies that still connect with listeners and viewers.
Credits:
Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Gin
Photography: lambiseverywhere
Gaffer: dun_l
Assistant: ttxchong
Videography: lai.tsz.chung
Styling: Lois Leung
Styling assistant: Tamia
Makeup: @manmanflm
Hair: @nickienick @Orient4
Text: Meiji Ray
Wardrobe: Miu Miu, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Burberry
