Ceramicist combines culture and techniques in new ways

Karen Herland

Chinese women in traditional robes drift across the surface of the blue and white porcelain urn, tinged with sepia. Only up close do you realize that the sepia figures are actually images of Barbie dolls.

The clash of traditional and consumer culture that feeds our global village is the dominant theme of Sin-Ying Ho’s work.

Ho’s term as Visiting Professor of Ceramics at Concordia is coming to an end. To mark the occasion, her first Montreal exhibition, Échanges métissés, is being held at the Centre de céramique Bonsecours, a gallery and school in Old Montreal.

She grew up in Hong Kong and came to Canada about 20 years ago. Since then, she has studied across Canada and is currently based in Louisiana. Ho’s work reflects her experiences with “difference places, different languages and different foods.”

Ironically, she says it was moving to North America that made her understand the importance of her culture and its influence on her life.

“I grew up in a colonized place. I’m interested in how people meet and collide. Those meetings may be positive or negative, but they always lead to something new,” Ho said at the vernissage for her show on April 27.

Her pieces, like Confucius, Jesus Christ and John Lennon, combine techniques, icons and cultures in surprising ways. Gibberish is decorated with words in English, Cantonese and binary code with nonsensical keyboard sequences.

She has taught two advanced courses while at Concordia. Her technique combines sophisticated glaze brushwork on unfired porcelain clay with computer-generated decals for transfer-printing.

Ho will travel across Canada and to China over the summer.

She is not sure where she will be in the fall. “I still don’t know where my home is.”

Échanges métissés will be on display at 444 St. Gabriel St. until May 26. Gallery hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.