Wong Lai-ching, Fiona

1964

Hong Kong

One of Hong Kong’s leading sculptors, teacher and artist Fiona Wong Lai-Ching is known for her contemporary ceramic designs. Working with a medium that is rooted in the Chinese tradition, Wong stretches its limits, incorporating other disciplines such as tailoring, cobbling, and lamp production. She has recently honed in on replicating natural forms through the physicality of clay. Inspired by the geographical landscape of Hong Kong and the two-dimensional mountains seen in traditional Chinese paintings, Fiona created the series Emerging Mountains. In the sculptures displayed here, organic, snowy, amorphous mountains are contained within the squares of a wooden antique cabinet, providing a contemplative and contemporary 3-D vision of Chinese landscape.

Wong graduated from the University of East Anglia and later obtained her MFA degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1997. In 2000 she received the Starr Fellowship award from the ACC and, in 2012, she was invited to participate in the Hong Kong Eye exhibition held at Saatchi Gallery in London, and in 2013 the designer brand Lanvin featured Wong’s sartorial ceramics in their Hong Kong Flagship Store. Recent solo exhibitions include Emerging Mountains, Lumenvisum, Hong Kong (2014) and Splendorous World, Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong (2014). She has been invited to various artist-in-residence programs held in Australia, Germany, America and Taiwan; and the International Workshop for Ceramic Arts in Tokoname, Japan and the Banff Centre for Arts, Canada.

Fiona is a member of the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva and currently teaches at The Hong Kong Art School; and her works have been widely exhibited and collected by museums and private organisations around the world, including British Museum, London, UK; Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong; Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong.

Her works were on display at the group exhibition NOT a Fashion Store! at Hong Kong Museum of Art in 2022.

BIOGRAPHY

1964 Born in Hong Kong

1991 Bachelor of Education University of East Anglia, UK

1994 Artist-in-residence, Banff Centre for the Arts, Canada
1996 Artist-in-residence, Visual Art Centre, Urban Council, Hong Kong

1997 Master of Fine Arts, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1998 Visiting Lecturer, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Artist Regional Exchange, Perth, Singapore, Hong Kong

1999 Lecturer of RMIT, Melbourne, Australia; programme collaborated with Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

Visiting Lecturer, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Visiting Lecturer, Beaver College, Philadelphia, USA

2001 Lecturer of Hong Kong Art School, Hong Kong
2003 Ceramics Biennale Residence Programme, The Artists’ House Halle, Germany
2006 International Artist In Residence program, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
2007 Member of International Academy of Ceramics, Geneva, Switzerland
2017 Named Artist of the Year in Visual Arts, Hong Kong; for her contribution to the promotion of Arts and Culture

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017

Hi Houses: A Chronical of Law Uk Retold By Arte, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Art Promotion Office, Hong Kong

2015

Echigo Tsumari Triennale 2015, Gogasha, Niigata, Japan

2014

Emerging Mountains, Lumenvisom, Hong Kong
Splendorous World, Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong

2004

Pattern and Sense, Grotto Fine Art, Hong Kong

2001

The Central Route, Art Windows, Millie’s Central, Hong Kong

2000

Porcelain White, Chelsmore Apartment, New York, USA

1999

Porcelain White-Studio Flat, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong

1998

White Porcelain, Hanart TZ Gallery, Para/Site Central, Hong Kong

1997

Hong Kong Artists Series: Wong Lai-ching: In-between Consciousness, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Hong Kong
3rd Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

1996

Ceramics Work, Hong Kong Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong

1994

The Second Generation, The Other Gallery, Canada

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025

One.Square.Water.Soil, Hong Kong Arts Development Council Showcase, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong

2024

The Charm of Colour, Oi! Glassie, Hong Kong

2022

NOT a Fashion Store!, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Here and There: Re-imagining Hong Kong Landscape, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2019

Classics Remix: The Hong Kong Viewpoint, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

2018

Asian Cultural Council Fellows Annual Exhibition 2018: A Charity Exhibition of Works by ACC Alumni, Alisan Fine Arts, Hong Kong
Claylaboration: Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
To Ideal Land of Ceramics - Exhibition of International Contemporary Ceramic Works, Tsinghua University Art Museum, Beijing, China

2016

Contract Earth, First Central China International Ceramics Biennale, Henan Museum, Zhengzhou, China
International Ceramics Art Invitation Exhibition, Liling Ceramic Valley Museum, Liling, China
Sculpting Image, Hong Kong International Photo Festival, Heritage Museum of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

2013

Dialogue: Lanvin Special Window Project, Lanvin Hong Kong, Public Art Hong Kong, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Eye, Artistree, Hong Kong

2012

Hong Kong Eye, Saatchi Gallery, London, UK
Chinese Design Today, Themes and Variations, London, UK

2011

Tooth and Nail : Cross Cultural Influences in Contemporary Ceramics, Chinese Museum, Melbourne, Australia
Strolling On The Water, Museum of Modern Art Westlake, Hangzhou, China

2009

Art In Use : Sculptural Objects, Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2008

China at Harewood, Terrace Gallery, Harewood House, Leeds, UK

2007

Cup and Saucer, ceramic functional objects, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong

2006

Vallauris Biennale Invitation Exhibition, Vallauris museum, France

2005

Freshly Made Burial Objects: Mister Ying Reborn, City University Gallery, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Timeless Wonder: ceramic functional objects, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2004

Neither East Nor West, East-West Centre, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

2003

Now and Now, World Contemporary Ceramics, Icheon World Ceramic Center, Seoul, Korea
More Than Just Food, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong
Ceramic Biennale in Halle, The Artist House, Halle Saale, Germany
Inseparable: an exhibition on small works, The Art School Learning Centre Galleries, The Art School, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2002

International Asia-Pacific Contemporary Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, Taipei County Yingko Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Chinese ceramics today – between traditional and contemporary expression, Ariana Museum, Geneva, Switzerland
East-West Ceramics Collaboration III, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

2001

The International Ceramic Art Exhibition, Yixing Museum, Municipality of Yixing City, Yixing, China

2001

Orientation Ceramic Workshop Exhibition, Kyonggi University, Korea
Lantern Show, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong Art Centre, Hong Kong
Contemporary Chamber Pot Exhibition, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong

2000

Artscope, Morphe 2000, Freespace 3 Gallery and Amana Image, Tokyo, Japan
The Free Tribe, Experimental Gallery, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong
The Chinese Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition Denver 2000, Indigos Gallery, USA
Contemporary Hong Kong Art 2000, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
City Poetry, Fringe Festival, Hong Kong

1999

99 Invitational Exhibition of Chinese Ceramics Artists, Beijing Central Academy of Art and Design, Beijing, China
ARX5, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth, Australia
ARX5, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
Kem Zeg Fen Seg, Para/Site Art Space, Hong Kong
Novas Impressoes da Ceramica Moderna de Hong Kong, Macau Cultural Centre, Macau

1998

Fletcher Challenge Ceramics Award Exhibition, Auckland, New Zealand
Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Unity in Diversity, Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China
ARX5, Singapore Museum of Art, Singapore

1997

Perfect Tense, French May, The Fringe Club, Hong Kong

1996

Fletcher Challenge Ceramics Award Exhibition, Auckland, New Zealand
Hong Kong Ceramics 1985-1995, Hong Kong Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong
Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

1994

Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
International Ceramics Festival Exhibition, Tokoname, Japan
Biennale Internationale de Céramique d’Art, Vallauris, France

1993

The 48th International Ceramic Art Competition Exhibition, Faenza, Italy
Tea Wares by Hong Kong Potters, Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong

1992

Contemporary Hong Kong Art Biennial, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong

SELECTED AWARDS

2000 Starr Foundation Fellowship, Asian Cultural Council, Hong Kong

2017 Outstanding contributions to the development of art and culture, Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme, Hong Kong

Visual Art Award 2017, Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Hong Kong

SELECTED COLLABORATIONS

2022 Hong Kong Colours, local soil project, Setouchi Triennale, Japan

2021 Hong Kong Colours, local soil project, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2010 The Missing Parts: Study on Functional Objects, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2007 Cup and Saucer: ceramic functional ware, The Pottery Workshop, Hong Kong

2006 My Soil, My Land: Community Art Project, Initiate and supervise, Hong Kong Arts Centre; Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong

2005 Timeless Wonder: ceramic functional ware, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong

2002 East-West Ceramics Collaboration III, University of Hawaii, Manoa, USA

International ceramics workshop, Snake Kiln, Taiwan

1998 Open studio project, Fringe Club, Hong Kong

1992 International Workshop of Ceramic Art, Tokoname, Japan

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

British Museum, London, UK
St. James Development, London, UK
Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, Florida, USA
International Ceramic Museum, Faenza, Italy
Yixing Museum, Wuxi, China
Fule International Ceramic Museums, Fuping Pottery Art Village, Shaanxi, China
The Opposite House, Swire Hotels, Beijing, China
Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Heritage Museum of Art, Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong
Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong
Kadoorie McAulay Ltd, Hong Kong
Fidelity Investment Ltd, Hong Kong