Born
1978 in Hong Kong
Artists
Vancouver- based artist Howie Tsui was born in Hong Kong but raised in Lagos, Nigeria before moving to Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada. He can be seen as an artist who, like many, has grown up straddling different worlds and cultures and as such has a complicated relationship with their identity.
Tsui’s latest solo exhibition ‘Retainers of Anarchy’ is taking off. A 25 metre ‘scroll’ video installation, Tsui combines the Chinese narrative tool of wuxia with modern technology. In doing so he disrupts understood notions of linearity and history and makes a bold cultural statement in the process. By alluding to this form of Chinese fantasy literature (which sees lower social classes uphold chivalric rights against oppressors and tyrants) and applying it to a modern day visual format, Tsui invites the viewer to reflect on the worlds in which we live.
Tsui’s work has been exhibited worldwide in places as diverse as Canada, Copenhagen, and Shanghai. His art is also part of public collections including those of the National Gallery of Canada and Vancouver Art Gallery. ‘Retainers of Anarchy’ has shows scheduled throughout Canada until 2020 and Tsui has recently been longlisted for the 2018 Sobey Art Award.
2017 Epson Ultrachrome pigmented ink on Epson Coldpress Rag paper H 91.44 x 121.92 cm 2018 Pigment and ink on mulberry paper H 47 x 64 cm 2018 Pigment and ink on mulberry paper H 47 x 64 cm 2017 Giclée print on Canson Photo Rag 310gsm, 2mm Anti-reflective plexiglass face-mounting (99.7% UV-resistant H 75.5 x 600 cm (diptych) Ed of 5 2015 Ink and paint pigment on mulberry paper H 209 x 109 cm 1978 in Hong Kong 2002 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2024 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2018 2012 2010 2005 2003 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2004 2019 2014 2011 2009 2008 2007 National Gallery of Canada
Kowloon / Wudang Walled City (Retainers of Anarchy component)
Kowloon / Wudang Walled City (Retainers of Anarchy component)
Parallax Chambers (White Camel Mountain No.1)
Parallax Chambers (White Camel Mountain No.1)
Parallax Chambers (White Camel Mountain No.2)
Parallax Chambers (White Camel Mountain No.2)
Parallax Neon (White Camel Mountain)
Retainers of Anarchy
Retainers of Anarchy
Retainers of Anarchy (Tavern Havoc)
Retainers of Anarchy (Tavern Havoc)
Born
Education
BFA, University of Waterloo, CanadaSolo Exhibitions
The cradle rocks above an abyss, Hanart TZ, Hong Kong
Retainers of Anarchy, Glenbow Museum, Calgary
Retainers of Anarchy, Art Windsor – Essex
A Prologue to Entombment, Patel Brown, Toronto
Retainers of Anarchy, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
From swelling shadows, we draw our bows, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Toronto (catalog)
Retainers of Anarchy, The Ringling Museum of Art, USA
Parallax Chambers, Burrard Arts Foundation, Vancouver
Retainers of Anarchy, Ottawa Art Gallery
Retainers of Anarchy, OCAT Museum Xi’an, China
Parallax Chambers, Art Labor Gallery, Shanghai (catalogue)
Retainers of Anarchy, Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada (catalogue)
Friendly Fire, Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Brandon, Canada
Horror Fables, Le Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Celestials of Gold Mountain, Wil Aballe Art Projects, Vancouver, Canada
Radiant Specters, Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco, USA
Friendly Fire, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Kingston, Canada (catalogue)
Celestials of Saltwater City, Centre A, Vancouver, Canada
Horror Fables, Montréal, arts interculturels (MAI), Montréal, Canada
Of Manga & Mongrels, Gallery Jones, Vancouver, Canada
Horror Fables, Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa, Canada (catalogue)
Horror Fables, Ace Art Inc., Winnipeg, Canada
Of Shunga & Monsters, Le Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Of Manga & Mongrels, G+ Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Of Manga & Mongrels, Gallery 101, Ottawa, CanadaSelected Group Exhibitions
Assembly, Australian Centre on China and the World
Statistics of Fortune: Macao International Art Biennale, Macao Museum of Art
Mountains of the Mind, Ringling Museum of Art
Outlaws, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney (AUS)
Stories that animate us, Vancouver Art Gallery
「INK CITY」, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong
Spring!, Galerie LJ, Paris
Façade Festival, Vancouver Art Gallery and Burrard Arts Foundation
Luminocity, Kamloops Art Gallery
Diverse Voices from Vancouver, Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland
Growth, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
New Space Soft Opening Exhibition, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
10 Years of Love, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
Fireflowers, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
Bites Back, ART LABOR Gallery, Shanghai
Anatomica, Dalhousie University Art Gallery, Halifax, Canada
越界/粵界 (Transgression/Cantosphere), Centre A (Vancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art), Canada
Shine a Light: Canadian Biennial 2014, National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa (catalogue)
Islands Off the Shore of Asia, Para Site, Hong Kong
Thru the Trapdoor, On Main Gallery, Vancouver
Neo Folk, Ikkan Art International, Singapore
Beside Yourself, Audain Art Centre, Vancouver
You Cannot Kill What is Already Dead, Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto
Spatial Poetics XII: Release Me, Powell Street Festival, Vancouver
Intersections, Cineworks, Vancouver
Accumulations, Le Gallery, Toronto
A Clear Blazing Trail, Magic Pony Gallery, Toronto
Phantoms of Asia: Contemporary Awakens the Past, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
The Calendar’s Tales, 808 Gallery, Boston University School of Fine Arts, Boston, USA
Local Flora, Galerie SAW Gallery, Ottawa
Picture Book 1, Interurban Gallery, Vancouver
Exploded View, Ottawa Art Gallery
Monster, West Vancouver Museum
Par Chemin, Yves Laroche Galerie d’art, Montreal
Life Drawing, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto
Hut on an Island, Grasshut Gallery, Portland
Listen to your Heart, MOHS Exhibit, Copenhagen
Parcours et Perspectives, Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec
The Pleasure, Jaime Torres Bodet Cultural Centre, Mexico City
Paper Pushers, Gallery 1988, Los Angeles
Fresh Start, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica, USA
Said and Done, AntiSocial Gallery, Vancouver
Enjoy Relax Happy, Niagara Gallery, Toronto
My Culture Includes My Scene, Ottawa Art Gallery
Then and Now, Gene Siskel Film Center of the Chicago Institute of Art
Semi-Permanent05: Sketchel, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Australia
Fresh Produce 04, Gallery Anno Domini, San Jose, USA
Scatalogue: 30 Years of Crap in Contemporary Art, Galerie SAW Gallery, OttawaAwards
Sobey Art Award Longlist
RBC Emerging Artist Award
Corel Endowment Fund for the Arts Award
Joseph S. Stauffer Prize, Canada Council for the Arts
Best Painting, Toronto Outdoor Art ExhibitionGrants
Canada Council for the Arts, Concept to Realization Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Abroad
Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Abroad
Canada Council for the Arts, Concept to Realization Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Digital Originals
Canada Council for the Arts, Concept to Realization Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
British Columbia Arts Council, Professional Development Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Long-Term Grants to Visual Artist
BC Arts Council, Project Assistance to Visual Artists
Canada Council for the Arts, Assistant to Visual Artists: Project Grants
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Assistant to Visual Artists: Project Grants
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Emerging Grant
City of Ottawa, Creation / Production Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Assistant to Visual Artists: Project Grants
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Emerging Grant
City of Ottawa, Creation / Production Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Travel Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Emerging Grant
City of Ottawa, Creation / Production Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Canada Council for the Arts, Assistant to Visual Artists: Project Grants
Ontario Arts Council, Exhibition Assistance Grant
Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artists Emerging Grant
City of Ottawa, Creation / Production GrantResidencies
Burrard Arts Foundation
Spring Workshop, Hong Kong
Centre A, Vancouver
Art City, Winnipeg
Symposium international d’art contemporain de Baie-St-Paul, Baie-Saint-Paul, QC
Islands Fold Artist Residency, Pender Island, BCPublic Collections
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Vancouver Art Gallery
Art Gallery of Ontario
Ottawa Art Gallery
Musée d’Art Contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul
Canada Council Art Bank
City of Ottawa
Global Affairs Canada (Embassy of Canada, Beijing)
M+ (Hong Kong)
RBC Art Collection
Ringling Museum
McMichael Canadian Art Collection