For Immediate Release

Solo Works of Shyh-Charng Lo

May 9, 2008 – June 27, 2008

OPENING: Friday, May 9, 2008, 3-6pm, Shyh-Charng Lo in Attendance

Art Beatus is delighted to present the emotive and moving landscape works of Vancouver-based artist, Shyh-Charng Lo.  “Solo Works of Shyh-Charng Lo” starts May 9, 2008 and runs through to June 27, 2008.  Coinciding with the annual festivities of Asian Heritage Month in May, the artist’s recent oil on canvas paintings of Vancouver’s ocean, mountain and sky will be featured with hopes to inspire feelings of renewal and the freshness of the Spring season.  A reception to celebrate the opening of the exhibition will be held on Friday, May 9, 2008 from 3pm to 6pm.  The public is encouraged to attend, not only to view the works but to meet the artist who will be present at the opening.

When looking at Shyh’s paintings, one is often presented a glimpse of the various angles and changing seasons through the artist’s window – the lush landscape which surrounds his home on the Westside of Vancouver is routinely the subject matter for his paintings.  Lo’s works which are slightly abstracted versions of the landscape around him, are based on the feeling and essence of his surroundings, not the actual objects.  His paintings are commonly referred to as tranquil, bringing peace and quietude to the viewer.  This seems somehow reflective of the artist who frequently conveys his ongoing communicative relationship with nature.  His constant awareness of the natural beauty around him is his inspiration and motivates him to express his connection with this particular beauty onto the canvas. 

“A monologue becomes a dialogue with nature, not only helping me to express something deep at the bottom of my heart, but also opening a gate for my inner feelings to be comforted.  My landscape painting has been simplified to basic forms and shapes for compositional and structural purposes and meditates on my relationship with my surroundings, articulating a perspective of inner peace, serenity and sometimes solitude”.

Shyh was born in 1945 in Nagano, Japan and moved a year later to Hsin-chu, Taiwan with his parents.  While he showed artistic talent at a young age, he was never formally educated in art.  When he was accepted into the National Taiwan University (the highest-ranked educational institution at the time), he chose the field of archaeology and anthropology.  No art programs existed during this period of time at the institution and it was as close as he could come to studying art.  After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in 1970, he moved to Vancouver for graduate studies at the University of British Columbia.  Upon receiving his Master’s, he traveled to Toronto to pursue museum training which eventually led to a position with the Royal Ontario Museum. 

Throughout his studies and years of employment, Shyh continued to paint in his own time.  His love of art grew stronger over the years and after a decade of working at the Royal Ontario Museum, he made the very daring decision to leave his job and dedicate all his time to painting.  In 1989, he and his family moved back to Vancouver where they settled into their home in the Point Grey area.  Shyh-Charng Lo has since established himself as a very respectable artist and the varying changes in scenery outside his windows continue to be a never-ending source of inspiration.  Mr. Lo has had numerous exhibitions and his work can be found in the international collections of assorted institutions and private art collectors.