'Desolate' part of Relationship & Emotion exhibition at Uptown Gallery Waterloo

“Desolate”, 17x31, photography on canvas, $575

I know I tend to avoid “negative” emotions and want to focus on feeling “good”. However, there are those days when pretending to be feeling good just doesn’t cut it, because deep down I have this unsettled, yucky feeling in my gut. It usually takes me a while before I am ready to acknowledge that yucky feeling, and when I do, it doesn’t make it go away, but it does allow me to pause and reflect and try to understand why I feel the way I do. Easier said than done to be sure! Fundamental to any spiritual tradition is the struggle between good and evil, yin and yang, sacred and profane, and I believe that in the personal spiritual realm this paradoxical antithesis is just as pertinent and necessary for one to accept, to find solace, inner peace, and harmony with others. “Desolate”—perhaps better titled “Desolation & Consolation”—is my attempt to express this phenomenon.

Let me know if you feel the balance between desolation and consolation comes through to you, or not!

ManChoi Chow 8/3/22 ManChoi Chow 8/3/22

'Melancholy' (part of Relationship & Emotion show at Uptown Gallery Waterloo)

"Gray overcast sky with a glimmer of light backlit this rural scene in late winter along a back road in Waterloo County (southern Ontario). The brightly coloured orange snow fence broke the sombreness"

Title: Melancholy

Medium: Photography on canvas, edition of 5, Dimension: 16"x 32"

Price: 575.00

Trusting my instincts is not always easy and I’ve discovered that if I can pay attention to my gut more often, it really pays off. The creative process is such a mystery, part intuition, part science, part technique and part luck! In this exhibition ‘Relationship & Emotion’ I really want to explore the relationship between the artist and the subject of the art, the viewer and the art, and the relationship between the viewer and the artist. I find it fascinating to pay attention to those who view my art and observe their reactions. At the exhibitions I have participated in over the past few years, as well as interacting with visitors during the weekly sessions at Uptown Gallery Waterloo where I am a member, I observe the emotional reaction to the art of the cooperative artists exhibited. As a featured artist, we get the opportunity to shine a brighter spot light on our art. I am amazed at the various and diverse reactions and interactions with my art—surprise, admiration, thoughtful reflection. In this show, I intentionally created pieces that evoked deep emotions that I felt as I was driving through the countryside last winter/early spring. “Melancholy” is a typical farm scene around Waterloo County, yet this scene got me to stop driving to turn back and look again. It took me some time afterwards to think about what it was that grabbed me, but trusting my instincts I framed the photo without being too analytical, and in processing it, I tried to remember and stay true to the feeling I had when I was in the scene, in the moment, and let the work emerge: melancholy! I would love to hear what you see and how you feel as you interact with my art.

@manchoichow facebook.com/manchoichow

ManChoi Chow 7/19/22 ManChoi Chow 7/19/22

'Relationship & Emotion' at UTG

I am one of 3 Featured Artists in ‘Relationship & Emotion’ at Uptown. Striking art with plenty of variety and styles.

Artist Statement:

“ManChoi wants to explore the emotional and spiritual impact art (in particular his photography) makes on certain relationships—those between artists and their subject matter; between the viewer and the art object; and most importantly, between the artist and the artist-within-you in the viewer. In the exhibition “Relationship and Emotion” he has created landscape images that may evoke (even provoke) emotions such as surprise, desperation, loneliness/connectedness, melancholy, and serenity.”

I welcomed the opportunity to explore this challenging and profound theme, and started preparing months in advance. I finally chose 3 single pieces as well as a set of 3 (available separately as well) among many images I was drawn towards, all taken in late winter and early spring in 2022. I chose to print some on canvas (including metallic canvas) and one on traditional baryta photo paper; all are framed and ready to be installed in their new home.

In upcoming blogs I will comment on other pieces in this exhibition, let me begin with ‘Tree Line in 3 parts’.

Driving through Waterloo County I pay attention to the natural environment that evokes feelings in me; I am getting better in trusting my intuition about whether a scene is worth stopping and capturing, after many a time when I regretted not listening to my heart. This particular stand of trees, a bush in the midst of a farmer’s field, on a cold late winter’s day at first sight seemed quite ordinary. Yet something stirred in me, and I stopped to look more carefully. Initially, I had a feeling of isolation and unbelonging, perhaps because of the vast, bleak fields of snow surrounding them, as well as the nakedness of their branches. Yet when I stopped and paid closer attention, as well as being more attuned with my soul, I connected with their spirit of solidarity and communal refuge that transcended their seeming vulnerability. My feelings turned warm and I felt consoled. To honour my spiritual encounter and to invite others to look more closely at what we often overlook and take for granted, I decided that the set of 3, rather than a single image, would better capture the fullness of my awakening.

ManChoi Chow 6/15/22 ManChoi Chow 6/15/22

Nature is full of surprises!

This spring has been unusual…or is it summer already? First week of June and we were still wearing sweaters in the evening and barely hitting 20 C in the afternoons, then in the second week, we are scorching with heat. It happens every year, our gardens transition from barren nothingness to lush paradise, yet somehow this year, perhaps because of the cooler days and lots of moisture, the rebirth to fullness in the natural world seems particularly spectacular to me. Now with the heat everything is going full tilt! The locust (twisty baby) was more perfumy and prolific with blossoms than most other years I can remember, right on cue following the dogwoods opening act. Prior to that, our red buds and witch hazels took centre stage before anything leafed out, except for the snow drops. And now peonies, thalictrums, roses, solomon seals, and soon goats beard…. Nature is full of surprises!

‘Firecracker’ (witch hazel) in full bloom

ManChoi Chow 5/1/22 ManChoi Chow 5/1/22

Solo Exhibition at FAC Kitchener

I am deeply indebted to Kris and Annemarie from Framing & Art Centre, Kitchener, for hosting an(other) exhibition of my art, on now till the end of May. Framing & Art Centre Kitchener is in the heart of Belmont Village.

All art displayed is printed with archival materials and in limited editions. Custom print sizes are available. Hope you can come down soon!

ManChoi Chow 4/19/22 ManChoi Chow 4/19/22

'Into the Woods'

'Nature' - Uptown Gallery Waterloo till May 14

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'Nature' - Uptown Gallery Waterloo till May 14 〰️

“Magical” was the feeling that came over me as we were driving home at sunset one late winter evening, passing through the small rural town of Ayr, in Southwest Ontario. Attempting to get close to that feeling in a photograph I printed this piece on metallic matte photo paper (which unfortunately doesn’t come through on screen so you need to see it in person). Those who have dropped by Uptown Gallery Waterloo have noticed the brilliance and detailed quality of the image. Magical!

ManChoi Chow 4/14/22 ManChoi Chow 4/14/22

Joy of Serendipity

All of us have been affected by the isolation of the past 2 years, though for me, it’s only more recently that I have become aware of the full impact. In some ways, I have appreciated the slowing down, not having to juggle competing schedules, and being able to maintain better work life balance. I am also aware of the loss of social contact, and the need to re-engage. One of the simple pleasures during this time has been quiet, non specific drives around the country side on Sunday afternoons. Even in the depth of winter, I have enjoyed the leisurely meanderings driving down country roads, discovering new places, appreciating the open landscapes and nature’s sabbath. I don’t remember ever driving down Mallott Road (Wellesley township) in winter and this piece is a soulful souvenir of the joy of serendipity in the midst of a pandemic.

ManChoi Chow 4/9/22 ManChoi Chow 4/9/22

Promise of Renewal

Hellebore, one of my favourite perennials (pity not native to SW Ontario) that are plentiful at Edenwilde, our home and gardens in Heritage District of Kitchener, is not only exotically exquisite in appearance, it is one of the first to bloom as soon as the snow disappears, with its semi-evergreen leathery leaves. It symbolizes for me nature’s resilience and its promise of rejuvenation and new life, year after year!

‘Renewal of Promise’

Part of the exhibition “Nature” currently showing at Uptown Gallery Waterloo, Mar 22 to May 14, 2022

ManChoi Chow 4/5/22 ManChoi Chow 4/5/22

'Day is Done'...all is well

The music of Peter, Paul and Mary (folk group from the last century) stirred something in me in my teens. One of their songs have stayed with me, and when I was thinking of a title for this piece, ‘Day is Done’ just popped into my head. This piece taken at sunset driving home on a late winter’s evening between Paris and Ayr, ON caught my eye and I took the picture out the window of the car while stopping on the shoulder. The soft fading light created a haunting stark silhouette that somehow also felt soothing and warm. The power lines in the mid ground echoed the lines of snow in the foreground framing the line of naked trees in the background. The barren frozen ground was beginning to thaw and the promise of regeneration and hope of new life has sprung!