Choi Yan-chi (, born 1949) is "one of few veteran female artists in Hong Kong." She is considered one of the pioneering artists, educators, and cultural advocates in Hong Kong, introducing new art forms such as installation and performance to the local art scene. In 1985, she presented a solo exhibition titled "An Extension into Space," which is considered the first major solo exhibition of installation art in Hong Kong. She has presented her work in numerous exhibitions in Hong Kong, New York, Germany, and Canada She is the co-founder of 1aspace, one of the oldest nonprofit art spaces in Hong Kong.
She was born in Hong Kong in 1949, and received education in the city. She graduated in 1969 from Northcote College of Education and in 1970 from Grantham College of Education. After having her first solo show at the American Library in 1972, she attended Columbus College of Art and Design in 1973, and then the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from 1974 to 1976. She obtained MFA from the same school in 1978.
Choi began teaching at Hong Kong Polytechnic Swire School of Design, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1979. She had her first participation in performance in 1980, at an experimental theatre performance by The Hong Kong Art Centre called "Journey to China"(ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæ ç¨Â).
Afterwards, she participated in stage design for Parting at River Yi (æÂÂæ°´éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ¥), Othello (å«Â) and Fu (è² ), before retreating from full-time teaching in 1986. She participated in an RTHK 13-week television art magazine program called æµÂå ÂèÂÂå½± in 1988. Then, she resided in New York and Toronto in the 1990s, and returned to Hong Kong in 1997.
In 1998, she received fundings from Hong Kong Arts Development Council to start 1a space, a non-profit-making art space. She also resumed full-time teaching in the same year, in the Institute of Vocational Education. Afterwards, she moved to Hong Kong Baptist University.
In 2011, Choi was granted an award by the Hong Kong Secretary of Home Affairsâ Commendation Scheme.
Her group exhibitions include âÂÂContemporary Hong Kong ArtâÂÂ, Hong Kong Biennial éÂÂå¹´å±Â, Hong Kong Museum of Art (2001); âÂÂLandscapeâÂÂ, HK Cultural Center (2000); âÂÂHome Affairâ 家äºÂå±Â, HK Heritage Museum at Sam Tung Uk Gallery (1999); âÂÂBad Riceâ show æª米å±Â, Next Wave Festival, Melbourne, Australia (1998); âÂÂBad Riceâ show æª米å±Â, Damen Art Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan (1999); âÂÂHong Kong Festivalâ é¦Â港èÂÂè¡Âç¯Â, Munich, Germany (1997); âÂÂRiverâ 河æµÂå±Â︰æ°äºÂæ´²èÂÂè¡Âå°Â話å¨å°åÂÂ, Taipei. Taiwan (1997); âÂÂCity at the end of timeâÂÂ, Vancouver, Canada (1997); âÂÂJourney to Chinaâ ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæ 稠Center for the Arts, HK University of Science and Technology (1997); City Vibrance Ã¥ÂÂå¸Âè®Âå¥Â, Hong Kong Museum of Art (1992); âÂÂTurn of the Decadeâ è½Âè®ÂçÂÂ年代, Hong Kong Arts Centre (1989); âÂÂOut of ContextâÂÂ, on a mansion on Kennedy Road organised by Hong Kong Arts Centre (1987); âÂÂ10 Years of Hong Kong PaintingsâÂÂâ é¦Â港åÂÂ年繪ç«å±Â, Hong Kong Arts Center (1985); and âÂÂInto the 80'sâ 堫åÂÂ年代âÂÂé¦Â港繪ç«. Hong Kong Arts Center (1984).
Her solo exhibitions include Re-Fabrication - A Research-based Exhibition on Choi Yan-chi's 30 Years: Paths for Inter âÂÂDisciplinarity in Art (1975-2005), Para Site, Hong Kong (2006); [Re-]Vision, 1aspace, Hong Kong (2006); Red Head Gallery, Toronto, Canada (1996); Mercer Union, Toronto, Canada (1994); Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany (1993); âÂÂThe First Asia-Pacific Triennialâ 第ä¸Âå±ÂäºÂ太ä¸Âå¹´å±Â, Queensland Art Gallery, Australia (1993); Asia American Arts Center, New York (1991); âÂÂAn extension into spacedâ 空éÂÂå §å¤Â, (the first exhibition of installation works in Hong Kong), Hong Kong Arts Centre (1985); and "From the Wall to the Floor," Hong Kong Arts Center (1979).
Her 206 retrospective exhibition was accompanied by a 332-page catalogue with the same title as the exhibition, published by Para Site.
Her performances include Melting 溶, presented by Hong Kong Goethe-Institut for Joseph BeuyâÂÂs exhibition, Hong Kong Arts Centre (1991); Object-activi-ties æ±西éÂÂæ², presented by Hong Kong Institute for the Promotion of Chinese Culture (1989); As Slow as Possible æ ¢ä¹Â極, presented by Hong Kong Regional Council (1988); and Journey to the East, Part III ä¸ÂÃ¥ÂÂæ ç¨Âä¸Â, presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre (1980).
She curated several exhibitions, including Tree-Man: retrospectives of Danny YungãÂÂ樹ï¼Â人ãÂÂ(榮念æ¾åÂÂ顧å±Â), 1a Space (2003); Behind the Eyeball (2002); Paintings in Hong Kong 繪ç«é¦Â港 (1998); and Beyond the Stock Market and Kungfu Movie: Hong Kong Art, an introduction in Toronto, Hong Kong Trade & Economic Office in Canada (1996).
The grants and awards she received in Hong Kong include âÂÂArtist of the YearâÂÂ, Hong Kong Arts Development Council (1998); Visiting Artist Grant; British Council to travel England (1990); and C.I.T.I.C. Grant of Asia Cultural Council. Artist-in-residence (New York) and travel in the U.S. (1989âÂÂ91).
The grants, awards, and residencies she received overseas include Visual Artist Grant, Artist-in-education, Ontario Art Council, Canada (1996); Travel Grant, Canada Council, Canada (1996); Visual Artist Grant, Artist-in-education, Ontario Art Council, Canada (1995); Visual Artist Grant, Artist-in-residence, Ontario Art Council, Canada (1994); B Grant (for artists with achievement), Canada Council, Canada (1994); Travel Grant, Canada Council, Canada (1993); Artist-in-residence, âÂÂHeinrich-Boll-Stiftungâ Grant, Berlin, Germany (1992); Artist-in-residence, Yellow Spring Art Institute, Penn, U.S.A. (1990); CITIC Fellowship, Artist-in-residence in New York and travel in US, Asian Cultural Council (1989âÂÂ90); and Fellowship Show, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, awarded and sponsored by the Art Institute of Chicago Museum (1976).
She was Assistant Professor at the Academy of Visual Arts, HK Baptist University (2005âÂÂ); Lecturer at the Hong Kong Baptist University, Department of Music and Fine Arts (2003âÂÂ05); Lecturer at the Institute of Vocational Education, Design Department (1998âÂÂ2003); Part-time Lecturer at the Hong Kong University, Department of Fine Art (1984âÂÂ93); Lecturer at the Hong Kong Polytechnic, Swire School of Design (1978âÂÂ86).
She served Adjudicator for the Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art (2003); part of Steering Group, Hong Kong Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Hong Kong Arts Development Council (2002); Co-op member for the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Visual Arts Section (1999); Chairperson at 1a space (1998-04); and Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of 1a space (1998).