Born: Singapore
Koi Neng Liew is a sculptor who was born in Singapore and studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. After moving to the United States he earned his BFA at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 2001 and his MFA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005. Liew has exhibited widely in the United States, China, and Canada and has received grants and fellowships from numerous institutions, including the Archie Bray Foundation and the Medalta International Artists in Residence program. He lives and works in Winnipeg, Canada.
The artist writes that the distinctive figures in his ceramic sculptures
“are based on an examination of unique and intriguing personalities I have met in recent years. I transform each character by distilling prominent aspects of their personality. Exaggerated proportions, obscure objects and gestures personify each character’s disposition …. [C]ultural displacement has been an important aspect in my creative process, and [has] led to the examination of traditional cultural behaviors between the two societies. An important aspect of traditional Chinese culture that has been prominent in my work is the Chinese Zodiac Calendar. The rabbit/human forms are symbolic of myself, and depict a narrative of significant events that have happened throughout my journey in the western world. I was born in the year of the rabbit[;] a reoccurring character, Rabbit Man, was conceived as an alter ego, and is based on the aspect of my Chinese Singaporean heritage.” [1]
For more information on Koi Neng Liew, visit http://www.koinengliew.ca.
[1] Koi Neng Liew, “Artist Statement,” http://www.koinengliew.ca/artist-statement-2. (Accessed 3/20/2015)