Lisbon, 2022

Charles Choi  

Artist Statement:

At the age of 4, in Shanghai, China, being influenced by my father and uncle (Mr. Tsai Wen-Ying, pioneer of cybernetic sculpture in USA), I started drawing. My folks then hired teachers to teach me basic painting skills, including Chinese as well as Western painting techniques. From the age of 6 to 10, I attended “Shanghai Children Palace" where my foundation of classical drawing was fostered. By aged 11, I was enrolled to Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institution, which served as a breeding ground for the development & liberation of my painting skills.

In 2008, I was enrolled to the Oil Painting Department of China Academy of Arts, one of the most prestigious art institutions in China. I was strongly inspired by the Courbet's principal with his motto: “painter must only paint what is before his eyes". The studio that I've enrolled is called “Concrete Expression", Concrete means painting by “what was seen", or as Lucian Freud said “I could never put anything into a picture that wasn't actually there in front of me, that would be a pointless lie." Expression is to clarify reactions, feelings, thoughts, beliefs & connections with audience.

So what I learn over there was when facing the object, my main duty is to express precisely according to “what I see", try to see the nature as it is, together with my understandings and experiences, I will focus on “how to paint" than “what to paint", so it's what to see and how to see the object in the first place.

During all those years of searching on the principles of paintings, the emphasis on drawings, the ratio of forms and compositions in pictures, I realized that the path to reveal the perfection is somehow a difficult task. The more I proceed, the more I felt desperate and defected. Luckily with the aid of meditation, my observation skill is enhanced, the awareness to drawing as well as to life is uplifted, I gradually learn to accept all obstacles and the 'so-called' boundary as it is. It's the journey I have chosen for my life, but indeed, I feel gratitude that I was being “chosen" to deliver 'paintings' in this way, hence for the rest of my life, I will keep exploring on this path with zeal and enthusiasm as it's what my life for!!

Education:

2008 ~ 2009 China Academy of Arts 2nd Studio, Oil Painting Department
1981 ~ 1981 Shanghai Oil Painting and Sculpture Institute Oil Painting Course
1973 ~1978 Shanghai Children Palace, Western Painting Course

Awards & Distinctions:

2019 Painting"Seaching"being selected in "The 13th China National Art Exhibition
Painting"Afternoon tea"being selected in "Kingston Prize 30 Finalists
Painting"Chair Series 11" won the "Best of the Show" in Scugog Art Council annual juried art show
2018 Painting"Late Snow" won the “1st Place Award" in Whitby Ribfest Art Show

2017 Painting "Hope" won the “Award of Excellence" in PRAC Juried Art Show
Painting "Afternoon Tea" won the “Gold Award" in Arts and Letters Club
Toronto's Next2 Art Exhibition

2016 Painting"Beauty in a Mess" won the “Enbridge Award" in PineRidge Juried
Arts Show
Painting "Expecting Someone" won the “Gold Award" in Oshawa Juried Art
Show

2015 Painting"Oct.01" being selected in The Fourth Youth National Art Exhibition,
Shenzhen, China

2014 Painting “Victory" being selected in The Twelfth National Art
Exhibition, China
Painting "Unity in a Mess" won the “Best Painting" in Uxbridge Annual
Juried Art Show

2013 “Dukka" won the “Best of the Show" in Society of Canadian Artists
Members Annual Art Show

“Ship Repair" won the “Best of the Show" in Uxbridge Annual Art Show

Painting " Old Factory" won 'The 1st Place in Oils' in 51st
Aurora Juried Art Show
Painting “Connection" won the 'Honorable Mention' in 51st Aurora Juried
Art Show


2012 Painting “Closed Friend" won 'The Best Painting of the Show' in
Latcham Gallery"s Annual Juried Exhibition 2012


Painting “Tranquility 2" won 'The 1st Place in Oils' & 'The Best of the
Show' in Oshawa Annual juried Art Show 2012


Painting “ Scarborough Bluff" won the 'Honorable Mention' in
Ontario Shores Art Gallery's Red Hot Art Show

Painting “Early Snow" won 'The 1st Place in Oils' in 50th Aurora Juried Art
Show

Painting “Chunch on Main Street" won the 'Honorable Mention' in
Annual Heritage Art Contest, Newmarket

Painting “The Flow" won the 'Honorable Mention' in Lindsay Annual
Juried Art Show 2012

2011 Painting “Shadow" won the 'Honorable Mention' in Lindsay Annual Juried
Art Show
Painting “Meditation Center" won the 'Honorable Mention' in Annual
Heritage Art Contest, Newmarket
 

Exhibitions:

Solo Exhibition

2017 Robert McLaughlin Gallery Solo Exhibition - “Transformation"

2018 OceanArt Gallery Solo Exhibition – “Peace of Mind"

2019 The Barn Hong Kong Solo Exhibition – “Colorful Life"
 

Artistic Influences:

At the age of 4, in Shanghai, China, being influenced by my father and uncle (Mr. Tsai Wen-Ying, pioneer of cybernetic sculpture in USA) I was strongly inspired by the Courbet's principal with his motto: “painter must only paint what is before his eyes". finally Lucian Freud is the most profound influence on my artistic route