ida tong - Visual Artist , World Citizen
“History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing
into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside.” - J. F. Kennedy
Most Recent Paintings:
"Ida's paintings are brilliant and technically sound, deeply evocative..." - Michael Spillane
Artist Statement Human history is a story of human evolution. Scientific evidence show that "it is a lengthy process of changes by which humans originated from apelike ancestors and evolved over a period of approximately 6 million years." Looking back at the past, it appears that our evolution has been a continuous series of accelerated technology to aid us with our survival. Consequently, my recent paintings explore the philosophical aspects of AI and the cross fertilization of our past, present, and future. Most importantly, as a world citizen, I want to reveal the interconnection between apes, humans, and robots (AI) as our progress “making.” Awards
2021 - FCA Active Membership Award See "Journal" on next page 2021 - Favourite Visual Artist (Platinum) The Wilmot Post (Ontario, Canada) 2018 - Best in Show Award Etobicoke Art Gallery, COAA (Ontario, Canada) 2018 - Heather's Choice Award Button Factory Arts, COAA (Ontario, Canada) 2010 - Trillium Garden Award City of Toronto (Ontario, Canada) 1980 - Alan Fleming Award Oakville (Ontario, Canada) |
Short Bio
After working as a graphic designer for 10 years (1980 - 1990), I am delighted to dedicate my 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. From 2000 to 2015, I ran a commercial art studio in Toronto, teaching drawing and painting to children and adults. Recently, I am retired from teaching and moved to New Hamburg (Ontario, Canada) with my husband, enjoying a lifestyle with tranquility, and exploring a body of work in futuristic paintings. Educations 2016 - Mohawk College Autism & Behavioural Science Online 2014 - Ontario College of Art & Design University Bachelor of Fine Arts Toronto, Canada 1994 - Palazzo Spinelli Painting Restoration Florence, Italy 1992 - Ontario College of Art Fine Arts Diploma Florence, Italy (off campus) 1980 - Sheridan College Graphic Design Diploma Oakville, Canada 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 UpTown Gallery Waterloo www.uptowngallerywaterloo.com/ida-tong-gallery National Federation of Canadian Artists (Active Membership) artists.ca/links Federation of Canadian Artist Toronto (FCA Toronto) www.fcatoronto.ca/ Kitchener Waterloo Society of Artists https://www.kwsa.ca/ida-tong1.html The Paris Bohemian Gallery https://theparisbohemiangallery.ca |
"The world doesn't make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do?" - Pablo Picasso
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Current & Upcoming Shows May 17 - July 17 - New Exhibition "Sea, Land, Air" with works of 25 local artists at the UpTown Gallery, Waterloo Town Square. 75 King St. S. Waterloo. http://uptowngallerywaterloo.com/ Feb. 2 - Jun. 1 - New Exhibition with works of many local artists at The Paris Bohemian Gallery, 27 William St. Paris, Ontario. https://theparisbohemiangallery.ca/ July 19 - Sept 18 - A featured artist in a new exhibition "Relationship and Emotion" with 3 others, plus the works of 20 local artists at the UpTown Gallery, Waterloo Town Square. 75 King St. S. Waterloo. Solo Exhibitions 2014 - Gerrard Art Space Gallery Toronto, Canada 2010 - Bluff Gallery Scarborough, Canada 2006 - Cliffcrest Library Scarborough, Canada 2003 - Studio 21 Scarborough, Canada 2000 - A Space Gallery Toronto, Canada 1992/3 - Library of British Institute Florence, Italy Group Exhibitions The Federation of Canadian Artists, The Federation Gallery (2022), Vancouver, BC; The Paris Bohemian Gallery, Paris, Ontario (2022); Central Ontario Artist Association, juried member show, Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery (2018); Uptown Gallery, on going shows and 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 March 11, 2021 - A quarter-page article of The Wilmot Post featuring its 1st annual Willi Wellie Community Choice Awards for Ida Tong's winning of the Platinum Award as the "Favourite Visual Artist" in the Wilmot Township. wilmotpost.ca/news/article.php?Your-Willie-Wellie-Award-winners-2021-513 October 8, 2019 - A 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