Synopsis:

iPRECIATION is proud to present a solo exhibition featuring Singapore artist Oh Chai Hoo 胡財和 Gentle Breeze, Moving Heart「風動 • 心動」 will feature more than 50 latest works created between 2016-2018 by Oh including ink paintings, ceramic sculptures and a seals light installation that will succinctly showcase his mastery in these mediums. Some of the ink paintings are fan-shaped and there will be a handscroll painting that is as long as 8-metres. The exhibition will open to the public from August 17, 2018 until September 1, 2018.

The title of the exhibition Gentle Breeze, Moving Heart takes its reference from the famous ancient tale in Zen philosophy by Buddhist monk Hui Neng which expresses Buddhist's emphasis on how all things begins from within our hearts. Part of Oh's ink paintings includes calligraphy and phrases from Zen philosophy that he strongly resonates with. Oh portrays rich mountainscapes and other natural forms using different tones of ink and juxtaposes it with calligraphy that he practices everyday over the last twenty years. The art and literary combination within these paintings reveal a deeper sense of introspection that brings us closer into the heart and soul of Oh's artistic expression. Oh hopes to invite his audiences to ponder over the juxtaposition of his paintings and calligraphy, and for them to discover their own intimate sense of deeper understanding into his paintings.

Born in Singapore in 1960, Oh Chai Hoo works extensively with various artistic mediums, ranging from ink painting, seal carving to ceramics sculpture. He graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore in 1982. Oh's mastery of ink painting is as well admired as his fearless experimentation with the medium. In recent years, he has been focusing on the development of new ink techniques on rice paper. Oh does not shy away from the use of deep black ink on rice paper and his experimental ink works exude an enigmatic quality that draws the viewer into a state of tranquility. He adeptly brings out a stunning sense of depth and texture in his renditions of nature's vast structures such as rocks and waterfalls, a subject matter that he has grown to be immensely fond of.

Oh's career now spans over twenty years and he continues to push boundaries of the art form's rich heritage to create works that are ultimately powerful. Oh has participated in various solo and group exhibitions in Singapore, Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan and UK. This includes solo exhibitions such as "Tropical Zen Garden" (Esplanade, Singapore, 2014), "Lifetime of Change" (iPreciation, Singapore, 2016), and "The Serene Path" (Gallery Huit, Hong Kong, 2018) with group exhibitions such as "V'Spartio (Travelling Exhibition) at Asian and Pacific VSA Festival" (Osaka, Japan, 1999), "San, Exhibition by Singaporean Artists" (King's Road Gallery, United Kingdom, 2000), "GAM Art Exhibition (Ceramic)" (Toyota City Art Museum, Japan, 2003), "Modern Calligraphy Exhibition (Travelling Exhibition)" (China, 2005), "When Space Dissolves Into Luminosity; Where Flowers Bloom Amidst Rocks" (iPreciation, Singapore, 2017) and "International Ink Painting Exhibition" (The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan, 2018).

He has also been given recognition for his outstanding works, by being awarded the Highly Commendable Award for Abstract Medium in the 18th UOB Painting Competition, Singapore (1999) and the Siaw-Tao Best Artwork Award, at the Siaw-Tao Annual Art Exhibition, Singapore, 2013. Oh's works are in private and public collections too.