Henry Ho 

<< >>

HENRY HO was born in Hong Kong. He studied art at the Hong Kong Polytechnic and several art colleges. While residing in Hong Kong, Henry established himself as a professional art designer, cartoonist and lecturer.

In 1988 Henry immigrated to Canada. He then studied Chinese Calligraphy from Mr. Chin Shek Lam and finished the art program of post-modernism at the University of Toronto.

In 1995, Henry founded “Ink Path Group”, to promote contemporary Chinese ink wash painting. From 1997 to 1999 he coordinated “Common Ground” - an intercultural dialogue and exhibition project that toured several cities in Canada with its exhibitions, demonstrations and lectures in contemporary ink and wash painting.

In 2002 Henry founded “IS Gallery” where he has curated several innovative ink and wash painting exhibitions. Also in 2002, with funding from the Canada Arts Council, Henry participated in a Chinese Experimental Ink and Wash Painting traveling exchange exhibition project between mainland China and Canada.

Henry has devoted himself to contemporary Chinese calligraphy, contemporary Chinese ink and wash painting, installation art and performance art. As an art teacher, Henry Ho has for twenty years been teaching Chinese painting and calligraphy from his private studio and he is also an instructor of Chinese art at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Henry’s art works have received several prizes in Canada and have been collected by The Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery of Markham and the Canadian Museum of Civilization. His art is represented by Art Beatus Gallery (China).

Art statement for calligraphy creation

I employ calligraphy as the main language in my art, the reason is not just the drive of the cultural complexity, but I learn that this ancient art form can translate my spiritual state entirely.

The remarkable sensitivity of the brush, the tonal range of the ink and the special quality of Xuan paper can create a direct record on my spirituality at the very moment.

Chinese calligraphy can be defined as an abstract art form that involves an engagement of aspects of the large Asian tradition with its unique historical, philosophical and theoretical features. My art can play a role as a media for the viewers to appreciate this cultural esthetic in contemporary approach.

The inspiration of calligraphy creation

The inspiration of my art is coming from the notion of the reality of my existence; beyond the phenomenon, there are order and conditions that form the reality that we come across, within them a immeasurable web of course and effect is gearing, nothing can escape, not even our thought and will.

My creation is based on the spiritual movement of the brush tip on Xuan paper with a specific state of mind. There is a tension between emotion and the reasoning of the complex technique; make with the raw materials from nature, the thin tissue of the paper gives out a characteristic response to this tension. The result suggests a kind of link of the order of nature and the companion with the realm of my heart. Each character is the record of the reality of my existence under the specific conditions and law.

The process of the creation is a sort of trance that gives me the feeling that my work is being guided by an unknown energy; finally the work itself takes over, and I do not even know what I am working on!

Artist statement of brush work

Ink brush strokes                     2

_______________  = ( vitality + freedom )

     mind                           =  my art language

    concept

The remarkable sensitivity of the brush, the tonal range of the ink and the special qualities of X’uan paper can create a unique and expressive result which reflect a specific state of my mind.

Chinese have been employing brush and ink on X’uan paper as a creative tool for over 1500 years. Beyond its use as an art material, the exploration of these media involves different aspects of the large Eastern traditions which are in its own historical, philosophical and theoretical feature.

The interaction between the spiritual aspect, cultural perspective and the exploration of brush work and concept are the essence of my art.