YIU KWAN KIT ELLEN (Hong Kong, 1997) makes work as if she is culturally foraging. She tends to go for things rather frozen in time, inspired by Taoism and Dadaism, and the vitality of primitive and craft objects. Her work celebrates the whimsical aspects of life drawn from her own experiences; they both obey the conventions of genre and parody them.
She views her work as essentially uncategorisable, exploring various themes in miniature formats. She believes in the importance of ambiguity and paradox as spaces where viewers can play.
Currently her work is Fluxus-inspired; her practise explores art intended for the audience of one. Moving between mediums organically, she works primarily with textile, wood, miniatures, drawing and installation. Her work is guided by repetition and reproduction, collecting and archiving; processes that embody her understanding on the urgent everyday life and purpose.
Besides her life work, she is training to become a Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® teacher, to nurture the need for body awareness, wellbeing and natural healing.
She has a passion for lifelong learning, well-designed folding/multifunctional objects, shoes and searching for the perfect bible paper.
EDUCATION & RESIDENCIES
2017-2021 Bachelor in Fine Arts, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Netherlands
2021 Destillaat #23, Extrapool, Nijmegen
2018-2019 Arts, Media & Society double degree certificate, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
2016-2017 Art Foundation, Paris College of Art, Paris, France
CONTACT
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She views her work as essentially uncategorisable, exploring various themes in miniature formats. She believes in the importance of ambiguity and paradox as spaces where viewers can play.
Currently her work is Fluxus-inspired; her practise explores art intended for the audience of one. Moving between mediums organically, she works primarily with textile, wood, miniatures, drawing and installation. Her work is guided by repetition and reproduction, collecting and archiving; processes that embody her understanding on the urgent everyday life and purpose.
Besides her life work, she is training to become a Gyrotonic® and Gyrokinesis® teacher, to nurture the need for body awareness, wellbeing and natural healing.
She has a passion for lifelong learning, well-designed folding/multifunctional objects, shoes and searching for the perfect bible paper.
EDUCATION & RESIDENCIES
2017-2021 Bachelor in Fine Arts, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, Netherlands
2021 Destillaat #23, Extrapool, Nijmegen
2018-2019 Arts, Media & Society double degree certificate, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
2016-2017 Art Foundation, Paris College of Art, Paris, France
CONTACT
EXHIBITIONS
2023 ∙ (current) constructs of dwelling, R.S.O.L, Deventer, NL
2022 ∙The rest of it is stillness, Positions, Stroom, The Hague, NL
2022 ∙Take my home away, Pulchri Studios, The Hague, NL
2022 ∙Limburg Biennale #2, Marres, Maastricht, NL
2021 ∙Finding Home, Late at Tate Britain: Life Between Islands, Tate Britain, UK
2021 ∙Drawing Appreciation Day, Hoogtij #66, …ism project space, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙Royal Academy of Art The Hague Graduation Show, NL
2021 ∙Art Show in a Caravan, Atelier Marin de Jong, Rotterdam, NL
2021 ∙AIR, Hoogtij #64 Projektruimte WEST END, The Hague, NL, curated by Annemieke Louwerens, group
2021 ∙The Tiny Art Gallery, 2nd Edition, The Hague, NL
2020 ∙A Finger in Every Pie, Jupiterkade 2, The Hague, NL
2019 ∙Deep Fried, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
2018 ∙Blood, Guts & Torture, Grafische Werkplaats, The Hague, NL
FAIRS
2023 ∙ (upcoming) New Perspectives, Unfair, Amsterdam, NL
2022 ∙This Art Fair, De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, NL
2022 ∙OBJECT Rotterdam, HAKA-gebouw, NL
COLLECTIONS
2023 ∙Echoes of Touch: A Tactile Exploration (2019), Gouda, Netherlands
2021 ∙Heaven closes at 5, textile, private collection, Melbourne, AUS
2021 ∙Writing with light, sculpture, private, Rotterdam, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 3/10, publication, Nuweland Gallery, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 4/10, publication, SinArts Gallery, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 6/10, publication, private, Hong Kong
PUBLICATIONS
2023 ∙Love after Love
2021 ∙Page Not Found, consigned
2020 ∙Jewel Paper Club #1, #2, #3, run by Sophia Wester
2020 ∙Drawing to Feel Good! Publication (Digital Version)
COMMISSIONS
2021 ∙Musée Légitime hat building with pockets, Martin la Roche, supported by Mondriaan Fonds
2021 ∙Oscar the deer dress, private client, Wassenaar, cultural foundation from the Deer House and Bakershagen Estate
2020 ∙Cantique des Cantiques book-binding restoration, Henri Matisse, 1st edition, private client
2020 ∙‘Shut up’ copper and resin jewellery set, private client
2020 ∙Freud’s Bridge, ink drawings of local flowers, handcarved frames, private client
GRANTS & AWARDS
2022 ∙Mondriaan Funds, Artist Start Investment
2021 ∙Winner of Stroom Encouragement Award
2021 ∙Nominated BA Fine Arts Department Award
2018 ∙Winner of Eurostar Competition, hosted by Central Saint Martins and Paris College of Art
2023 ∙ (current) constructs of dwelling, R.S.O.L, Deventer, NL
2022 ∙The rest of it is stillness, Positions, Stroom, The Hague, NL
2022 ∙Take my home away, Pulchri Studios, The Hague, NL
2022 ∙Limburg Biennale #2, Marres, Maastricht, NL
2021 ∙Finding Home, Late at Tate Britain: Life Between Islands, Tate Britain, UK
2021 ∙Drawing Appreciation Day, Hoogtij #66, …ism project space, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙Royal Academy of Art The Hague Graduation Show, NL
2021 ∙Art Show in a Caravan, Atelier Marin de Jong, Rotterdam, NL
2021 ∙AIR, Hoogtij #64 Projektruimte WEST END, The Hague, NL, curated by Annemieke Louwerens, group
2021 ∙The Tiny Art Gallery, 2nd Edition, The Hague, NL
2020 ∙A Finger in Every Pie, Jupiterkade 2, The Hague, NL
2019 ∙Deep Fried, Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, NL
2018 ∙Blood, Guts & Torture, Grafische Werkplaats, The Hague, NL
FAIRS
2023 ∙ (upcoming) New Perspectives, Unfair, Amsterdam, NL
2022 ∙This Art Fair, De Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, NL
2022 ∙OBJECT Rotterdam, HAKA-gebouw, NL
COLLECTIONS
2023 ∙Echoes of Touch: A Tactile Exploration (2019), Gouda, Netherlands
2021 ∙Heaven closes at 5, textile, private collection, Melbourne, AUS
2021 ∙Writing with light, sculpture, private, Rotterdam, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 3/10, publication, Nuweland Gallery, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 4/10, publication, SinArts Gallery, The Hague, NL
2021 ∙In my Hand a Miniature 6/10, publication, private, Hong Kong
PUBLICATIONS
2023 ∙Love after Love
2021 ∙Page Not Found, consigned
2020 ∙Jewel Paper Club #1, #2, #3, run by Sophia Wester
2020 ∙Drawing to Feel Good! Publication (Digital Version)
COMMISSIONS
2021 ∙Musée Légitime hat building with pockets, Martin la Roche, supported by Mondriaan Fonds
2021 ∙Oscar the deer dress, private client, Wassenaar, cultural foundation from the Deer House and Bakershagen Estate
2020 ∙Cantique des Cantiques book-binding restoration, Henri Matisse, 1st edition, private client
2020 ∙‘Shut up’ copper and resin jewellery set, private client
2020 ∙Freud’s Bridge, ink drawings of local flowers, handcarved frames, private client
GRANTS & AWARDS
2022 ∙Mondriaan Funds, Artist Start Investment
2021 ∙Winner of Stroom Encouragement Award
2021 ∙Nominated BA Fine Arts Department Award
2018 ∙Winner of Eurostar Competition, hosted by Central Saint Martins and Paris College of Art