Ascendence: Chloe Ho

The need for ascendence reflects humankind’s journey biologically, psychologically and spiritually. Man is indeed a singular creature. Our very nature makes us unique among living things. Not only are we one with our landscape (Shan Shui), but we also shape the world in which we live.

Our true paradox is that we are able to fit into all environments. Through the ages we have both remade and reflected our environment – each time taking another step forward and freeing ourselves from the dictates of the physical world. Our “scale” of understanding and dominance of the universe increased exponentially, while physically we remained relatively the same. We continued to ascend both on broad and personal levels through the use of our unique imaginative gifts and sense of identity. We created an ever ascending structure of our accomplishments to the cosmos.

Such an accomplishment is Art, and, in turn, the need and appreciation for art ascended.

The Ascendence Exhibition reflects our journeys from the beginning to the present and to the future on a micro and a macro level. It speaks to our common heritage, our Identity – as we moved forward – first one with Nature, then as Man distinguishing ourselves as artists, philosophers and scientists, and later as masters of multiple dimensions through technology creating a new “Life Force / Cosmos” that includes virtual reality and other forces in art.

It also holds my personal journey as an artist- reflecting the expression of my own unique vision of the world as I too follow the same path. I have tried to speak through my art, as I explore the themes that continually bring me to the brush. I put forward more questions than answers as my pieces ask the viewer: What is the essence of identity? How is our journey the same? Different? How are we connected? What is the power of the visual experience? What does the future hold for art? for others? for me? Are we continuing to ascend and where are we going?

My questions also lead me to extend my work into the world of dimensionality in art. I make my images of identity leave the paper and become three dimensional. I create a hanging garden from my flora ink paintings. I make painting images move as though freed into a different world. I create art in a virtual world to see if it truly is an ascendant act. I juxtapose a recreation of my rather old fashioned artist’s studio with a virtual art space. Importantly, I ask: can we or will we lose aspects of being human as we enter this new technologically dominated era? For humanity was the very thing that allowed us to build the ever ascending structure of our accomplishments.

I hope you will find this journey of Ascendence an interesting and meaningful one. I thank you for taking it with me.

Chloe Ho
Hong Kong 2017