Sheng Qiang He (Roy Hoh)
Roy Hoh attended Sichuan Fine Arts Institute affiliated Secondary School and Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and received a Bachelor’s degree in design. Before immigrating to Canada, he worked as a visual director at institutions and organizations in Beijing. Since 2010, he has worked as a professional photographer, focusing on photography creation and teaching in Vancouver.
His art interest is perceiving the unique existence of a thing, giving him a subjective feeling. Usually, he does not have a detailed plan for the creative process. However, when there is inspiration, he will build a harmonious unity between objects and the heart. Grew up in the influence of mixing Eastern philosophy and Western visual arts, especially those post-impressionist works emphasizing subjective feelings to shape objective phenomena, he intensified the use of color to enhance visual expression in his artworks. He uses cameras to record shape, light, and color and their combination around me. Photographic tools provide him with elements of shadow and light, which allow him to express figurative images or abstract content with no constraints.
Education
Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, Bachelor of Design
Sichuan Fine Arts Institute affiliated Secondary School, Visual Arts
Events
2020-2021, the work “Constant Ancient” is featured in Art Photography Awards 2021 Competition Gallery of LensCulture
2019, the work “Heyday”, “Five Elements of Gold #01”, “Five Elements of Gold #02” participated in the fifteen Chinese and Mexican artists group exhibition “Bridges of Friendship—Vision Reality and Abstract Passion”
2019, the work “Heyday” was exhibited at R Space in Vancouver
2017, the work “Leafless Flower” participated in the auction and was collected by a collector and the fund was donated to the Vancouver Rotary International Polio Project
2017, 2018, Supporting VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation – the works “Boundary”, “Five Elements of Gold #01”, “the Life of Art” participated in Young Artist Exhibition Auction and collected by collectors; and the fund was donated to charities
2017, the Works “Sunny” and “Boundary” participated in the ” Luminosity & Rhythm”, the second International Chinese Photography Exhibition in Vancouver, collected by collectors
2017, the work “The Flower with No Leaf” participated in the “Harmony-The First Global Chinese Photography Art Exhibition”, collected by a collector
2008, worked as the visual art director at Beijing Times Art Museum, curated “The Vision of You and Me – 2008 China Olympic Photography Exhibition”
Artist Statement
In the philosophical thoughts of the East, the five elements (Wood, Earth, Water, Fire, and Metal) theory is used to explain the basic composition of the world and their mutual relationship. This order of presentation is known as the “mutual generation” sequence.
I connected scenes of my photos with my feelings and made modifications randomly. As the image changes, the appearance of the things has changed. Just like the series of “Metal” comes from plants, the creation process is also the process of my thinking and comprehension. The process of this conversion is wonderful: I didn’t predict what it would be, but it brought me joy and touch as the image changed. This temptation to explore the unknown world keeps my passion in creation.
The inner spirit of people and things is called “soul.” I use the camera to record the image and combine with the features of different lenses, shooting techniques, digital technology and usage of materials to redefine the shade of colors, even the shape of the image. I hope to express “soul” by presenting more unique images. I am constantly looking for and trying various ways to present the “soul” of things in my mind, just as the impression that our closest people have left us is not a clear face our feelings. In many works, I am trying to find and think about the connections and relationships of things in different space and different time. I also pay attention to the appearance and innerness of each thing.
I use cameras to record shape, light, colour and their combination around me and to perceive each unique existence of a matter giving me the subjective feeling. Usually I don’t have mature plans or programs in my creation. However, when I am really touched by my perception and interest, I will build a harmonious unity of objects and my heart.
I grew up in the influence of eastern philosophy and was influenced more by western visual arts, especially those post-impressionist’s works emphasizing the artist’s subjective feelings to shape objective phenomena. So, I intensify the use of colour to enhance visual expression in my works. The photographic tools provide me elements of shadow and light, which allow me to freely express figurative image or abstract content.
