"... brilliant and technically sound paintings, deeply evocative..." - Michael Spillane
Human history is a story of human evolution. Scientific evidence shows that it is a lengthy process of change by which people originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately 6 million years. From hunter-gathering to agricultural societies with better farming technology, human civilization began worldwide and simultaneously about 5 thousand years ago. After a long period of Dark Age (220 - 581 in Asia and 476 - 1453 in Europe), it was Scientific Revolution that pushed humanity to the Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840 in Europe with advance technology), in the name of progress. Since then, advance technology has not been sleeping for the last few hundred years. From telephone to airplane, iPhone to self-driving car, there is no shortage of innovation in high-technology around the globe. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) comes to our homes, offices, private and public corporations, government and healthcare systems, and in all aspects of our daily lives, taking charge of all financial and health records, as well as many security issues. One cannot stop imagining what AI can do for humanity in our immediate future. Hence, my current artwork explores the evolution of AI and the interconnectedness between humans and AI. The future is here when we look at what has happened in our past - it is actually a continuation of evolution in our technology.
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Short Bio
After working as a graphic designer for 10 years, I am delighted to dedicate the time on some fresh and innovative paintings. Four years of consuming arts and culture in Italy (1991 - 1995) planted a creative seed in my heart, I came back to Toronto and started to paint passionately. There is no rest for the wicked, from 2000 to 2015, I ran a commercial art studio in Toronto, teaching drawing and painting to children and adults including those with special needs. Recently, I have retired from teaching and moved to New Hamburg (Ontario, Canada) with my husband, enjoying a quiet lifestyle, and I am excited to explore a body of work in futuristic paintings. Educations Mohawk College - Autism & Behavioural Science, Online (2016) Ontario College of Art & Design University - Bachelor of Fine Arts Toronto, Canada (2014) Palazzo Spinelli - Painting Restoration Florence, Italy (1994) Ontario College of Art - Fine Arts Diploma, Florence, Italy (1992) Sheridan College - Graphic Design Diploma, Oakville, Canada (1980) Awards Best in Show Award Etobicoke Art Gallery, COAA (2018) Heather's Choice Award Button Factory Arts, COAA (2018) Trillium Garden Award Toronto (2010) Alan Fleming Award Oakville (1980) Public Recognition March 3, 2020 A one-hour Art Presentation for the KWSA monthly meeting at the Kitchener Community Centre, Kitchener, Ontario. April, 2017 Conducted an art show at the Village Centre of Morningside Community in New Hamburg, Ontario. Memberships Art$Pay https://artspay.org/professional-arts-practices-copy Central Ontario Art Association https://coaart.com/ida-tong/ Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists https://www.kwsa.ca/ida-tong1.html Local Art For Local Walls (LAF) https://www.lafwr.com/ida-tong UpTown Gallery http://uptowngallerywaterloo.com/index.php/artist/ida-tong |
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"The world doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?" - Pablo Picasso
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Current & Upcoming Shows
Nov. 17 (2020) - Jan. 16 (2021) - Special Art Exhibition "Celebration" at the UpTown Gallery, Waterloo Town Square, 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario. May 10 - Local Art For Local Walls (LAF) An ongoing Online Art Store begins its sales with artworks in all mediums from over 100 artists. https://www.lafwr.com/ida-tong Solo Exhibitions Gerrard Art Space Gallery 2014 - Toronto, Canada Bluff Gallery 2010 - Scarborough, Canada Cliffcrest Library 2006 - Scarborough, Canada Studio 21 2003 - Scarborough, Canada A Space Gallery 2000 - Toronto, Canada Library of British Institute 1992 & 1993 - Florence, Italy Group Exhibitions LAF Ongoing Online Exhibition (2020); Central Ontario Artist Association juried member show, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery (2018); Uptown Gallery Featured Artist, Waterloo (2017-present); Central Ontario Artist Association juried member show, Art Gallery of Hamilton (2018); New Hamburg Studio Tour, New Hamburg (2017); Women Art Association of Canada, Toronto (2010-2015); Orange Art Gallery, Ottawa (2014); Bluff Gallery, Scarborough (2000-2015); Cedar Ridge Art Centre, Scarborough (2013); Scarborough Civic Centre, Scarborough (2002); just to name a few. |
Publications October 8, 2019 - An one-page article of the Waterloo Region newspaper called "Record" in the Arts & Life section; a headline “Ida Tong’s Imagination runs wild” to feature Ida’s latest paintings with a theme “Human Evolution to Artificial Intelligence” by Terry Pender. https://www.therecord.com/entertainment/2019/10/07/artists-among-us-ida-tong-s-imagination-runs-wild.html March 2018 - A two-page article in the Baden Outlook Monthly Newsletter, volume 18, issue 8, page 10 and 11, featuring Ida Tong’s latest paintings and her art journey. https://www.badenoutlook.com/PDFs/Archives/March18.pdf 2014 - A one-page with a short artist statement and two colour photos of Ida Tong’s latest paintings, published in an art book called International Contemporary Artists, volume IX, page 288, ICA Publishing, with editor and curator, Olga Antoniadou. https://www.idatong.org/discover.html |
"There is no such thing as ART. There are only ARTISTS." - E. H. Gombrich
"There is no such thing as ART. There are only ARTISTS." - E. H. Gombrich