Koi Neng Liew: Play Thing @ the Esplanade in Medicine Hat

by | Jan 4, 2017 | Uncategorized

Koi Neng Liew’s large-scale sculptures have a powerfully physical
presence inhabited by an elusive yet evocative sense of human spirit. In
this new work he presents a meditation on childhood and fatherhood, as
seen through the lens of play with his son.

Liew comments: “My son has a very different childhood than I did. He
has hundreds of toys: cars, planes, guns, action figures, videos
and Lego. I watch him as he imagines he is Megatron or Iron Man; he
creates his own alter ego, embodying the toys we play with. Fatherhood
has created an opportunity to relive my childhood. I play as though I am
a child again, but realize that in my son’s  eyes I am just as much a
toy as the ‘play-thing’.”

Koi Neng Liew is originally from Singapore, where he studied at the
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He received a BFA from the New York State
College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2001, and an MFA from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005. Liew is the recipient of
numerous awards including the Roswell Artist in Residence 2008 grant in
New Mexico, and a 2005 Taunt Fellowship at the Archie Bray Foundation in
Montana. He is a featured artist in the Clay Art International Yearbook
published in Athens, Greece, and has exhibited in Canada, the United
States and China over the past 10 years. In 2010 Liew undertook the
year-long Artist Residency in the Medalta IAIR program and now is a
faculty instructor at Medicine Hat College in Visual Communications.

Jan 14 – Feb 25

Public Reception with the Artist
FRI Feb 3 | 7 PM

Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre
401 First St SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8W2
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM / Sat 12-5PM
Statutory Holidays and Sundays CLOSED

www.esplanade.ca
www.koinengliew.ca

Canadian Ceramic Artist Robin Hopper honored with Order of Canada

by | Jan 4, 2017 | Uncategorized

“To coincide with the centennial of Canadian Confederation,
the three-tiered order was established in 1967 as a fellowship that
recognizes the outstanding merit or distinguished service of Canadians
who make a major difference to Canada through lifelong contributions in
every field of endeavour, as well as the efforts by non-Canadians who
have made the world better by their actions. Membership is accorded to
those who exemplify the order’s Latin motto, desiderantes meliorem patriam, meaning “they desire a better country”, a phrase taken from Hebrews 11:16.[2]
The three tiers of the order are Companion, Officer, and Member;
specific individuals may be given extraordinary membership and deserving
non-Canadians may receive honorary appointment into each grade.”

For a full list of those added to the Order of Canada visit the Globe and Mail.
Find out more about the Order of Canada here.