Style Folio: Actor Carlos Koo Finds Real Passion in Metal Engraving

Actor Carlos Koo moonlights as an engraver – or is it the other way round? He talks about his love for the craft and his plans for his art.

Perhaps you’ll find Carlos Koo familiar: over more than 20 years, the actor has appeared in plenty of advertisements and television shows in Hong Kong. But off camera, Koo has a hidden talent. He’s a master metal engraver, and has left his permanent mark on both watches and motorcycles. “I’ve always loved to entertain, and showing people what I can do,” he says. “I can tell stories with my acting, and similarly I’m now telling stories with my art.”

Is your passion for metal engraving like an alter ego to your career as an actor?

I’ve always loved riding Harley-Davidson motorcyles – and one day when I was reading a foreign magazine, I saw
a motorbike with beautiful engravings on it. Unfortunately I couldn’t find anyone in Hong Kong to do it, so I decided to do it myself. After I engraved a friend’s Harley, I began to receive requests from friends who wanted me to engrave their watches. I started to study watch engraving because I saw a market for it. I’ve been a professional actor and model for the past 20 years and when I’m not shooting, I can be found sculpting. 

Of which works are you most proud?

The first one is my own motorcycle, as it’s how everything started. A lot of bikers here and overseas see and admire my work, so for me it’s like a mobile art piece. I’m also really proud of Phantom Peace, which is an artwork I made that shows the coNFLict between war and peace – the upper part is skeleton terracotta warriors that represent darkness and death, while the lower part is decorated with roses and scrolls to represent love and peace. I finished the piece with traditional metal engraving by hand, with hammer and chisel, and it took about 200 hours to finish.  The third piece I’m really proud of is my engraved Omega Planet Ocean. It took nearly 460 hours to design, engrave and polish, all by hand.

What’s hardest part of being an engraver?

It’s very time-consuming. Being a good metal engraver is 51 percent about creating a good design and 49 percent about engraving skills. Creating a design on a tiny and uneven surface is really hard and I’m a very picky person. I want my work to look three-dimensional and I’ll spend months on the design alone. There’s also no room for error in metal engraving and I have to be very sure about every single step.

How about motorcycles and watches? 

I’m 100 percent a fan of motorcycles and I used to ride every day for more than 16 years. At my peak, I owned six different types of motorcycles. But I stopped riding when I had a son, as I wanted to spend more time with him, but I’ll hit the road again when he’s grown up. I also love watches but sadly I’m not a huge collector yet. There must be an element of enthusiasm and love to elevate your art to another level.

What’s your daily beater?

My first Rolex, which I’ve been wearing since before I got into metal engraving. Now I also wear my IWC Big Pilot and Omega Planet Ocean, both of which I’ve engraved, so I can show my friends my unique art works at any time.

Which watch do you hope to own  one day?

Maybe it’s Patek Philippe’s marketing, but it got me thinking about my son’s inheritance. As a father, I really want to own one.

Do you have a favourite artist?

That’s a difficult question, because I love learning from different artists, I find every artist inspirational. But my favourite engraver is probably my teacher. His name is I Dewa from Bali; his works are full of detail and he has a strong sense of three-dimensionality. I was honoured to learn from him.

Which travel destination is on top of your list this year?

As a father to a four-year-old, I prefer safer and more easily manageable destinations. I’d love to bring him to Singapore. I used to live there and they have excellent food and a lot of attractions to explore. I’m confident we’ll have a fantastic time there.

What are you currently working on?

I have a waitlist of five watches on my hands that clients have entrusted to me to engrave. I also have a dream of becoming a true artist – hopefully, a world-class one – and I’m working on metal-engraving pictures, which is quite a rare art form in the market. Next year I have an exhibition at Art Central in 2025, where I aim to showcase five to seven of my artworks.

Where can we see your works this year?

I’ve been invited by HKTDC to participate in the Hong Kong Watch Fair, and I’m thrilled. HKTDC aims to highlight the presence of horological artists in Hong Kong and showcase the artistry and craftsmanship involved. I’ll be showcasing my works and conducting demonstrations at the event, and it’ll be a great opportunity to promote not just what I do, but the art of engraving as a whole to fellow enthusiasts.