N O R M Y I P PORTFOLIO

10.05.2015

葉偉誠 Image TransfersPaintingsGraphite

Photography

Norm Yip’s work eschews any one medium or genre; it weaves

in a constant circle around photography, graphite drawings and

paintings. The essence of his art permeates at several different

levels; reflecting varying aspects of his mind and heart at play.

Graphite drawings dominated his early repertoire and remains

some of his most philosophically and emotionally influenced

pieces today. Pencil and paper meet to inscribe his awakening into

the mysteries of life and death. At first appearing as symbols, the

drawings tend towards the formless - the ‘being-ness’ of existence

represented in a series of embryonic circles.

Where graphites provided glimpses into his deeper sub-conscious,

it was acrylics that gave Norm’s thoughts full voice - a vocabulary

exciting and rich in both colour and form. His visual language of

choice is that of abstraction, with recent works inspired both by

nature and the malleability of the medium; using colour to capture

movement and guide the eye. In another series, he uses the infinity

symbol ∞ to represent the unending consciousness of life; bound

neither by birth nor death.

Norm further expanded his artistic repertoire when he began

photographing the Asian male body. Inspired by the chiaroscuro

aesthetic of Herb Ritt’s sculptural subjects, his series of

Profile

photography books - aptly named ‘the Asian Male’ - brought

a renewed sensibility to the Asian man as monuments of

beauty, desire and pleasure.

In 2012, Norm set out to combine his disparate interests;

allowing photography and painting to collide and fuse into an

altogether different form of expression. Through a process

of image transfers using an ink toner printer, paper and

acetate with animals and portraits as his initial subjects, the

pieces that emerged were highly textural and tactile; vivid in

their raw emotional energy and vigor while tempered with

a tenderness and sensitivity born from years of observation

and experimentation.

...................

Norm Yip was born on the prairies of Saskatchewan, Canada

to immigrant Chinese parents and ran an architectural

walking tour in Toronto. In 1994, he made the move to Hong

Kong and started working as a project architect for 5 years

before finding his calling as an artist and a professional

photographer.

Image Transfers In 2012, Norm set out to combine his disparate interests; allowing photography and painting to collide and fuse into an altogether different form of expression. Through a process of image transfers using an ink toner printer, paper and acetate with animals and portraits as his initial subjects, the pieces that emerged were highly textural and tactile; vivid in their raw emotional energy and vigor ....

Lust by Norm Yip, 2013, Mixed media on canvas. 1000 x 1000mm.

Pride by Norm Yip, 2012, Mixed media on canvas, 1000 x 1000mm.

Envy by Norm Yip, 2013, Mixed media on wood. 900 x 900mm.

Greed by Norm Yip, 2013, Mixed media on wood. 600 x 600mm.

Sloth by Norm Yip, 2013, Mixed media on wood. 900 x 900mm.

Gluttony by Norm Yip, 2012, Mixed media on wood. 600 x 600mm.

Sinha is here by Norm Yip, 2013, Mixed media on canvas. 900 x 900mm.

I see you; you see me by Norm Yip, 2012, Mixed media on wood. 300 x 400mm.

Heaven is here by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood, 405 x 610mm.

Will you remember? by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 300 x 440mm.

Creation, not by chance, No. 2 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood, 440 x 300mm.

I know you; you know me, No. 2 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood, 440 x 300mm.I know you; you know me, No. 1 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood, 440 x 300mm.

Paintings Where graphites provided glimpses into his deeper sub-conscious, it was acrylics that gave Norm’s thoughts full voice - a vocabulary exciting and rich in both colour and form. His visual language of choice is that of abstraction....

Infinity, No. 4 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 917 x 917mm.

Infinity, No. 3 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 600 x 600mm.

Infinity, No. 1 by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on canvas. 700 x 700mm.

Petals from the Anointed by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 1520 x 960mm.

Symphony from the Divine by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 1520 x 960mm.

Visitation of Aurora by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 1000 x 1000mm.

Dance of the Halycon Birds by Norm Yip, 2015, Mixed media on wood. 1000 x 1000mm.

Lava Basalt 2 by Norm Yip, 2010, Acrylic on Canvas, 1568 x 970mm.

Lava Basalt 3 by Norm Yip, 2010, Acrylic on Canvas, 1568 x 970mm. 1568 x 970mm.

The Nature of Joy by Norm Yip 2004, Acrylic on Canvas, 2030 x 1058mm

Windows of Memory by Norm Yip, 2004, Acrylic on Canvas, 1260 x 1510mm.

Sacred Seed by Norm Yip, 2003, Acrylic on Plywood, 970 x 1220mm.

Beyond A Better Day by Norm Yip, 2003, Acrylic on Canvas, 960 x 910.

Graphite Pencil and paper meet to inscribe his awakening into the mysteries of life and death. At first appearing as symbols, the drawings tend towards the formless - the ‘being-ness’ of existence represented in a series of embryonic circles.

One II by Norm Yip, 2000, Graphite on Paper, Image size: 510 x 510; Frame size: 740 x 790.

There II by Norm Yip, 2002, Graphite on Paper, Image size: 300 x 450; Frame size: 500 x 650.

Embryo of Perception IV, by Norm Yip, 2006, Graphite on Paper, ~ 480 x 480mm diameter.

Embryo of Exploration by Norm Yip, 2005, Graphite on Paper, ~ 480 x 480mm diameter.

Embryo of Perception II, by Norm Yip, 2006, Graphite on Paper, ~ 480 x 480mm diameter.

Zygote by Norm Yip, 2007, Graphite on Paper, ~ 600 x 700mm diameter.

Photography Norm further expanded his artistic repertoire when he began photographing the Asian male body. Inspired by the chiaroscuro aesthetic of Herb Ritt’s sculptural subjects, his series of photography books - aptly named ‘the Asian Male’ - brought a renewed sensibility to the Asian man as monuments of beauty, desire and pleasure.

Loren, No. 1 by Norm Yip, 2010.

Nono, No. 2 by Norm Yip, 2011.

Oscar, No. 1 by Norm Yip, 2014.

Feels like I don’t belong, No. 3 by Norm Yip, 2014.

Leo, No. 1 by Norm Yip, 2014.

Reclining Cyrus, No. 3 by Norm Yip, 2014.

Norm Yip was born in Canada on May 3, 1963 by Chinese parents.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree (cum laude) in 1984 at

the University of Saskatchewan and his Bachelor of Architecture

degree in 1989 at the University of Toronto. In 1994, he moved

to Hong Kong where he worked as a project architect for Wong &

Tai Associates Ltd and RTKL International Ltd before pursuing his

greater interest in art and photography.

In 1999, he co-founded the art collective Meli-Melo Artists

Alliance (MMAA) where he curated several exhibitions with artists

such as Gavin Tu, Neung and Oksana Movchan from Hong Kong,

Thailand and Canada.

Shortly thereafter, he formed his own photography company

Norm Yip Photography, in addition to Studio 8, a semi-public

photographic and art space located in the district of Sheung Wan

-- where he hosted private and selected exhibitions in all three

mediums of photography, painting and graphite.

As a photographer, Norm’s work has appeared in HK Magazine,

WHERE, Global Investor and American Express’ Centurion

magazine. Celebrities he has photographed include Zhang Yimou,

Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Destiny’s Child and Korean pop-star

Rain.

In photography, Norm’s work was first recognized when his

photographs of Asian men was selected to appears in publications

2Blue and Dreamboys 2, both special editions of aclaimed Blue

Magazine, known for its excellence in fine art photography. Since

then, his work has been featured in The Best of International Nudes

Photography III by Feierabend Unique Books and The Romantic

Male Nude by James Spada.

Norm has taught photography courses at The Open University

of Hong Kong and has been a guest lecturer at Hong Kong Art

School. In addition, he has been invited by the Cathay Camera

Club to act as a judge in their monthly photography competitions.

In 2008, he moved his studio to Chai Wan, an industrial

neighborhood, where he continues to photograph, paint and draw.

Biography Exhibition, Recognition & Events

May 2015, Selected artwork Spring rejoicing in curated collection Bright Abstracts for under $2,000 by Saatchi Art (online), Los Angeles.

May 2015, Selected artwork Heaven is here in curated collection New This Week - 5-4-2015 by Saatchi Art (online), Los Angeles.

April 2015, Selected artwork Infinity, No. 1 in curated collection All Things Abstract by Saatchi Art (online), Los Angeles.

April 2015, Selected artwork Will you remember? in curated collection New Portraits by Saatchi Art (online), Los Angeles.

December 2014, Embryo, Solo graphite drawing exhibition, L’s Where, Hong Kong

October 2014, The Asian Male, solo photography exhibition, Gallery Box, Zurich, Switzerland.

October 2014, Andy Warhol X Absolut, group exhibition, Pink Season Factor, Azure Restaurant, Hong Kong.

October - November 2013, Cool on the Inside; Hot on the Outside, photography exhibition, Studio 8 HK, Hong Kong.

July - August 2013, The Narcissist, photography exhibition, Studio 8 HK, Hong Kong.

July 29, 2013, Collections, Selected artwork Greed in a group online exhibition, Saatchionline, London.

July 26, 2013, Story of the Creative, Selected three artworks transfer to appear in See | Exhibition Space, Angel Orensanz Foundation, New York.

November 2012, Curator and exhibitor. Seven Deadly Sins, Voxfire Gallery, Hong Kong.

August 2011: Group exhibition RetreAttack – RA Vol. 2, Selected photographs of Janice, Dahlia Gallery, Singapore.

February 2011: Group exhibition Heat, Selected photograph and painting, Charity Art Sale for Hong Kong Aids Foundation, Voxfire Gallery, Hong Kong.

November 2009: Group exhibition. Selected graphite Verge V. Zonta Club of Hong Kong II. Charity Art Sale. Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong.

May - June 2009: Oxford Pride 2009. Group exhibition to the theme of 1969 Stonewall. Two bondage photographs were selected to appear in the show. Oxford, UK.

December 2008: Group exhibition. Curated and participated in the charity art auction Sexpression benefiting Horizons Group in Hong Kong, Studio 8 HK, Hong Kong.

September 2006: Solo Exhibition, Skin Deep, Selected photographs of the new male nude/semi-nude photography, Baileys at the Fringe - Fotogalerie, Hong Kong.

November - December 2005: Group exhibition, Gay Artists: Gay Art?, Selected photographs of The Asian Male, Art Statements, Hong Kong.

August 2005: Solo exhibition, NudeNotNaked, Selected photographs of the Male Nude, Three Boxes, Hong Kong.

April 2005: Group exhibition, Moonstruck, Acrylic painting submission, Club 64 and the Venice Biennale 2005, Hong Kong and Venice.

March-April 2005: Selected group exhibition, Nasi Campur, exhibition of acrylic paintings, Gallery Taksu, Kuala Lumpur.

October 2004: Selected artist featuring selected graphite images to appear in art book Eyes of the Soul – Exploring Inspiration in Art; written and compiled by Philip Rubinov-Jacobson; foreword by Ken Wilber. RRR Publishers, Germany, 2004.

August 2004: Selected Group Exhibition, Private Edge, selected fine art photographs, B2G Gallery, Singapore.

June 2004: Solo Exhibition, Secret Constellations, exhibition of acrylic paintings, Studio 8, Hong Kong.

November - December 2003: Group Exhibition, Art in The Winter - Gardens Exhibition, selected paintings, Lee Garden, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

June - July 2002: Solo Exhibition, Persona of Spirit, exhibition of new graphite drawings and paintings, Studio 8, Hong Kong.

May 2003: Solo Exhibition Intrepid Terrain, exhibition of paintings. E&J Gallo Gallery, The Fringe Club, Hong Kong.

June - July 2002: Solo Exhibition, Embryo of Intelligence, exhibition of graphite drawings, Home Boutique, Hong Kong.

May - June 2002 Solo exhibition, Verge, exhibition of paintings and graphite drawings, 5 opt Studio / Gallery, Hong Kong.

March 2002: Artist and curator of a group exhibition Buddha Buddha. Other artists include Neung (Thailand) and Gavin Tu (Hong Kong), Studio 8, Hong Kong.

November 2001: Solo Exhibition Navigation. Selected paintings, drawings and photographs. Studio 8, Hong Kong.

March 2000: Solo Exhibition First Level, exhibition of graphite drawings, Meli-Melo Artists Alliance, Hong Kong.

January 2000: Co-curator/Exhibitor Light + Shadow, black & white photography, Meli-Melo Artists Alliance, Hong Kong.

October 1999: Co-curator/Exhibitor Entanglement, group exhibition, mixed media, Meli-Melo Artists Alliance, Hong Kong.

Exhibition & Events, continued.

The Asian Male - 3.AM, Hardcover, 112 pages, Studio 8 Hong Kong Publishing Ltd. 2014.

Beaux, V1 - Vanity, Softcover, 96 pages, Studio 8 Hong Kong Publishing Ltd. 2012.

The Asian Male - 2.AM, Hardcover, 68 pages, Studio 8 Hong Kong Publishing Ltd. 2007.

The Asian Male - 1.AM, Hardcover, 48 pages, Studio 8 Hong Kong Publishing Ltd. 2005.

Publications by Norm Yip

Office & Studio Room 809, 8/F

Hong Kong Chai Wan Industrial Building

26 Lee Chung Street

Chai Wan, Hong Kong

T: +852 2540 6267

M: +852 6838 8948

E: nwy@normyip.com

http://normyip.com

http://theasianmale.com