Irene Chou’s theories of New Ink Painting inspired her to move away from conventional Chinese styles and experiment with different media and techniques, so as to find her own personal expression.
Born in Shanghai in 1924, Irene Chou received a modern education from St. John’s University in 1945. Leaving Shanghai to settle in Hong Kong in 1949, she began to study Chinese painting under Chao Shao’ang (b. 1905 – d. 1998), an artist of the Lingnan School. Chou later studied under the tutelage of Lui Shou-Kwan (b. 1919 – d. 1975), whose theories of New Ink Painting inspired her to move away from conventional Chinese styles towards abstract forms. She explored, through her paintings, the inner workings of the mind and its relationship to the mysteries of the universe. Her abstract paintings from the 1980s onwards exploded with a stunning energy; these powerful works have rendered her as one of the most innovative artists of the New Ink Painting movement in Hong Kong. After a stroke in 1991, Irene relocated to Brisbane, Australia, where she continued to paint more determinedly than ever. Today, her works are collected by the British Museum, the Chinese University Museum, the Fung Ping Shan Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of Arts, the University of Hong Kong, the City Gallery in Manila, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the National Arts Centre, the National Museum of History in Taipei, and the Queensland Art Gallery.
Irene Chou passed away in 2011. She is survived by 3 children, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Education
1945 | BA in Economics at St. John’s University, Shanghai
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2021 | As Clouds – A Solo Exhibition by Irene Chou, iPreciation, Singapore
- 2019-2020 | Irene Chou Rediscovered: Paintings from the M. K. Lau Collection, Duddell’s, Hong Kong
- 2019 | A World Within – The Art and Inspiration of Irene Chou, 20th Century Chinese Female Artist Series, Asia Society Hong Kong Centre, Hong Kong / The Pulse of Ink, iPreciation, Singapore
- 2013 | Hong Kong Masters, Rossi & Rossi Ltd, London
- 2012 | A tribute to Hong Kong Masters, Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong
- 2010 | De la Chine, entre Tradition et Modernite, Galerie F. Hesler, Luxembourg
- 2008 | Life is a Many Splendoured Thing, iPreciation, Singapore
- 2007 | The Norman W. M. Ko Collection of Hong Kong Art, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- 2007 | The New Face of Ink Painting: Modern Ink Painting Group Exhibition, Central Plaza, Hong Kong
- 2007 | Life is a Many Splendoured Thing, The Rotunda, Exchange Square Central by iPreciation, Hong Kong
- 2006 | Creative Spirit: Hong Kong Visual Arts, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong
- 2006 | Universe of the Mind. Retrospective, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- 2003 | Irene Chou, My Universe, iPreciation Gallery, Singapore
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2021 | Art for Everyone at HKMoA, City-wide art campaign, Hong Kong
- 2020 | UNSCHEDULED, Hong Kong Art Gallery Association, Tai Kwun, Hong Kong
- 2019 | iPreciation 20th Anniversary: Reverie Collection – 25 Years of Art Collecting Journey, iPreciation Gallery, Singapore
- 2019 | iPreciation at Taipei Dangdai 2019, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- 2018 | iPreciation at Fine Art Asia 2018, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
- 2018 | HOPE A charity exhibition celebrating the works of outstanding contemporary Chinese women artists
- 2015 | A Legacy of Ink: Lui Shou-kwan 40 Years On, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
- 2013 | Hong Kong Masters, Rossi & Rossi Ltd, London, U.K
- 2012 | A tribute to Hong Kong Masters, Hanart TZ Gallery, Hong Kong 2010 | De la Chine, entre Tradition et Modernite, Galerie F. Helser, Luxembourg
- 2008 | Hong Kong Art: Open Dialogue Exhibition Series II – New Ink Art: Innovation and Beyond, curated by Alice King, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
- 2007 | The Norman W. M Ko Collection of Hong Kong Art, 2007, University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- 2007 | The New Face of Ink Painting: Modern Ink Painting Group Exhibition, Central Plaza, Hong Kong
- 2006 | Contemporary Hong Kong Ink Painting Exhibition, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong
- 2004 | Reconciliation Art Works, Multicultural Community Centre, Brisbane, Australia
- 2002 | Chinese Paintings from the Khoan and Michael Sullivan Collection, Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- 2002 | Artists in the Neighbourhood Scheme II Launching Exhibition, Hong Kong Central Library, Hong Kong
- 2002 | Hong Kong Cityscapes – Ink Painting in Transition, Hong Kong Festival, London, United Kingdom
Selected Public Collections
- British Museum, London
- Boston Museum of Fine Arts
- Hong Kong Museum of Arts
- University of Hong Kong,
- Chinese University Museum, Hong Kong
- Fung Ping Shan Museum, Hong Kong
- Norman W. M. Ko Collection, Hong Kong
- City Gallery, Manila
- Melbourne Raya Gallery
- Queensland Art Gallery
- National Museum of History, Taipei
Awards
- 1988 | Hong Kong Artists’ Guild Painter of the Year Award
- 1983 | Urban Council Fine Arts Award for Painting (Chinese Media)
- 1972 | Pacificulture Asia Museum Fine Art Award
Permanent Collections
- Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK
- Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, USA
- British Museum, London, UK
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- City Gallery, Manila, Philippines
- Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Land, Hong Kong
- Khoan and Michael Sullivan Collection
- M. K. Lau Collection, Hong Kong
- M+, Hong Kong
- National Art Gallery, Manila, Philippines
- National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
- National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung, Taiwan
- Norman W. M. Ko Collection, Hong Kong
- Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia
- Raya Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
- University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong (Formerly known as Fung Ping Shan Museum)
And many other private and public collections throughout Asia and internationally. For full list of exhibitions and public collections, please contact the gallery at enquiry@ipreciation.com
Images of artworks
