Ho Ho Ying

Infobox Artist
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name = Ho Ho Ying (何和应)

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birthname =
birthdate = bda |1935|2|20
location = Hainan, CHN
deathdate =
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nationality = Singapore
field =
training = Liu Kang
Chen Wen Hsi
movement = Abstract expressionism, Chinese ink painting
works =
patrons =
influenced by = Jackson Pollock]
Surrealism
Fauvism
influenced =
awards =

Ho Ho Ying (zh-sp|s=何和应|p=Hé HéYīng) is a Singaporean abstract artist known for his avant-garde Chinese calligraphy and his Abstract Expressionistic works of art unique to Asian ideology. He is also an accomplished author known by his moniker 子木（Zǐ Mù), and an art critic for the Singapore visual arts community.citation|title=Singapore Chinese Cultural Festival Grand Art Exhibition 2008, 29th February to 5th March 2008|location=Singapore|publisher=Federation of Art Societies (Singapore)|page=70|year=2008]

Ho is a was born to a father who came to Singapore on his own to work as a cook for Mrs Loke Cheng Kim, mother of Datuk Loke Wan Tho. His childhood years was spent with his mother on Hainan island. Ho migrated to Singapore with his mother when he was 9 years old, to reunite with the elder Ho and escape from the Second Sino-Japanese War. Ho received his education at the Chinese High School. It was also then he developed strong interest in art under the influence of teachers like Liu Kang and Chen Wen Hsi. As he was a poor and could not afford art materials, Chen would often offer him money to buy the art materials. Ho's confidence in his art grew as he was proficient with Chinese calligraphy and often won awards in school. When he was 18 years old, his mother passed away of cervical cancer and shortly after giving birth to his youngest sister. As his father was away working with Mrs Loke's household in Kuala Lumpur, Ho had to take on the responsibility of taking care of his two younger brothers 5 years and 6 years of age, a 9-year old sister and a 4-and-half months old infant sister. Life was hard for Ho and his siblings as his father could not remit money home on time to them, and Ho often had to seek credit for food and provisions from shop owners.

In 1962 Ho graduated from Nanyang University with a Bachelor (Arts) in Chinese Language and Literature. In 1963, Ho along with seven other artists Wee Beng Chong, Tong Siang Eng, Tay Chee Toh, Tan Yee Hong, Johnda Goh and Ng Yat Chuang frequently gathered together to discuss the development of the country’s fine art, and came to develop a singular thought that modern art for Singapore should be explored with loft and zeal. And so in October that year they founded the Modern Art Society, and launched their First Modern Art Exhibition at the National Library. In 1975, Ho was presented with an award the Malay arts group APAD (Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya) for his contribution in promoting art among different racial art groups in Singapore and uniting various ethnic art organisations. [http://www.mass.org.sg/profile/17.htm Profile of Ho HoYing, Modern Art Society] ]

Ho's art evolved through his years, from Chinese calligraphy aesthetics ingrained in him when he was a schoolboy, to Western art influences by Impressionism and by mother-and-child paintings by Fauvist masters. In the 1950 - 60s, Ho found his true calling in his artistic expressions, when he laid eyes on Nature-themed semi-abstract paintings and Surrealism for the first time. He was especially enthralled by the free movements of American artists like Jackson Pollock and other artists existing at the time of his youth. This new spirited aesthetic resonated with the Taoist saying, "Let thinking be like a bird in the sky" - a saying that lived close to his art througout his life. It inspired him to live freely in his canvas, escaping from the world of rigidity and systemic restrictions that humans live in. It enabled him to break boundaries in his expression on, and beyond the canvas. Together with his penchant for blue, red and black colours on his palette, his paintings show a unique artistic identity that is signature to Ho Ho Ying. [citation|editor-last=Lim|editor-first=Richard|title=Singapore artists speak|location=Singapore|publisher=C.H. Yeo|year=c1990|isbn=9974-0-0863-7|pages=44-47]

Gallery

References

Further Reading

* Sabapathy T. K.; Cheo Chai-Hiang (eds.) (2005) "Re-Connecting: Liu Kang and Ho Ho Ying: Selected Writings on Singapore Art and Art Criticism". Singapore : Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore. ISBN: 9789810540166

* 何和应 (Ho, Ho Ying) (2000) "跨越障碍 : 何和应创意书画集" (Breaking barriers : recent calligraphy art works by Ho Ho Ying). Singapore : Federation of Art Societies.

* 何和应 (Ho, Ho Ying) (1999) "美术论衡" (Perspectives in Art). Singapore : Singapore Art Museum.

* 何和应 (Ho, Ho Ying) (1978) "何和应画集" (Ho Ho Ying Art Collection).

* 何和应 (Ho, Ho Ying) (1966) "何和应画展特辑" (Ho Ho Ying Art Exhibition catalogue).