PAUL CHING – BOR (b. 1963)
A contemporary painter whose dynamic cityscapes represent a bold new exploration of the medium, Paul Ching-Bor was born in 1963 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the capital of the province of Guangdong. At age twelve, he began his study of art at the Youth Arts Centre in Guangzhou. He remained at the school for six years while attending high school. He went on to study sculpture for two years at Guangzhou Fine Art University. He spent an additional two years at the Jing De Zhen Ceramic Institute, in the Jiangxi province, where his training consisted of courses in academic fine-art techniques.
In 1987 Ching-Bor moved to Sydney, Australia. There he focused on watercolors, portraying primarily the suburban neighborhood of Paddington, where his studio was located. In 1990 Ching-Bor received a scholarship sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and awarded by from the Royal Agricultural Society for the study of fine art in New York. In the following year he received the Overseas Study Travel Grant from the Rotary Club of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia. For the next four years he saved money to insure that he would be able to prolong his stay beyond the scholarship’s term, and in 1996 he was able to realize a long-held desire to move to New York. “When I first walked down the streets of Manhattan I was curious about the impact this strident city and the jostling crowds would have on my work,” Ching-Bor recalled. “The structures, arches, and bridges immediately inspired me, and particularly suited my limited color palette. My favorite colors are black and white, and I found I was able to tackle New York subjects in a very free way that, in the early stages, suggests abstract painting.”
Indeed, the art with which Ching-Bor finds the greatest connection is that of the New York School Abstract Expressionists, especially Franz Kline. In the works of Kline, Robert Motherwell, Willem de Kooning, and other artists of the era, Ching-Bor found intriguing parallels with the theories of ancient Chinese scroll painters, a coalescence that has inspired his own personal blend of Eastern and Western approaches. In response to New York, Ching-Bor’s art evolved. He began to work on a big scale, using the largest and heaviest papers that he could find, in the thought of no compromise to the conventional watercolor’s principle. His process involves laying down the fundamental part of the painting, which is the structure of the work. He then proceeds to glaze and splash paint on the paper until the image disappears. When the work dries, “the image bounces back.” “Then I look at it again,” says the artist, “The remains from the dematerialization become the new materialization of the work…”
Through this method, Ching-Bor has reconsidered the qualities of watercolor that are often thought to be intrinsic to the medium, such as sensitivity, delicacy, and transparency. According to him, his images are “not so transparent, not so spontaneous in some parts, and not so ‘watercolor’ anymore. They are the substantial, developed face of watercolor painting.” This approach is robust and dynamic; at the same time, the works have a quiet intensity in their melancholic and stark qualities.
Living in New York has suited what Ching-Bor has sought to express in his art, and he found the spirit of the city manifested in many of its facets. “When I look at life in New York,” he observed, “I see people having come from another country or state and living in Manhattan for some kind of purpose. People are not living freely; they live for the ‘reason’. The contrast between dark and light is so much a part of the experience of living in New York.”
Through painting urban ambiance, Ching-Bor has found a vehicle for expressing the city’s intensity, loneliness, ambition, and drive. Lately the subject that has gripped him the most is the Queensborough Bridge at Fifty-Ninth Street and the East River, a short walk from his home and studio on East Seventy-Fifth Street and York Avenue. Like John Marin, who painted dynamic, sparkling watercolors of the Brooklyn Bridge that expressed the vitality of New York from the 1910s through the 1940s, Ching-Bor uses the bridge as an expressive form. However, for him, the bridge is less a symbolic motif than a plan or form that coalesces with his subconscious and direct responses to the city. The dark, heavy surfaces, pierced with soft, streaked, and glimmering light, and the vertical thrusts, countered by plunging diagonals, are diagrams of the city as much as of the human psyche. “I have found my dialogue in the echoing steel structure,” he says. “The heavy weight of the steel depicts the burden we carry. The intricacy of the pylons is the conflicting issues in our society. The haunting emotion behind the steel is phenomenal.”
Ching-Bor began his images of steel structures in late 1996. These works are in tune with the rhythm of this time of defiance, tension, and gritty realism. At the same time, they are self-referential, reflecting Ching-Bor’s very personal response to his surroundings.
Ching-Bor has participated in many exhibitions in Australia and the United States, and has been the recipient of many prizes and awards. In 1999 he went to Turkey, where he created a group of works for a 2002 exhibition. In 2000 a solo show of his work was held at the Butler Institute in Youngstown, Ohio, and in the following year, he was invited to take part in an artist-in-residency program in Salzburg, Austria, sponsored by Neuhaus Gallery, Salzburg, and Sparkasse Bank. The works he produced on the sojourn were included in A New Vision of Salzburg (2001).
Ching-Bor’s works are in many private and public collections in the Australia, England, Japan, and the United States including Hilton International, Sydney; Shell Chemicals, Melbourne, Australia; Camberwell Civic Centre, Melbourne; Mobil Oil, Melbourne; Pioneer International, Sydney; the Springfield Art Museum, Missouri; Ritz-Carlton, New York; Grand Hyatt International, Tokyo; Park Hyatt, Shanghai; Sparkasse Bank, Salzburg; Myriad Hotel, New York; and the Columbia Museum of Art, South Carolina.
Paul Ching-Bor received a 2013 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Curriculum vitae
| 1963 | Born in Guangzhou – Southern China |
| 1987-1996 | Sydney, Australia, lived and worked as professional artist |
| 1996-2018 | Presently living and working in New York and New Jersey |
Education |
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| 1975-81 | Selected to study fine art at the Youth Arts Centre, Guangzhou, China |
| 1984-85 | Sculpture Department, Guangzhou Fine Art University, China |
| 1985-87 | Fine Art Department, Jing De Zhen Ceramic Institute, China |
| 1996-02 | Painting and Print Making, National Academy of Design, School of Fine Arts, New York |
Awards and Prizes |
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| 2013 | The 2013 New Jersey State Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship awarded in the discipline of Painting, by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts |
| 2000 | The Allied Artists of America 2000 Gold Medal of Honor Greg G. Thielen Memorial Award |
| 1999 | Watercolor USA 1999 Cash Award Prize |
| 1998 | The Allied Artists of America 1998 Silver Medal of Honor |
| 1997 | The Allied Artists of America 1997 Gold Medal of Honor; Newington Award for Best Painting, American Artists Professional League Annual Exhibition |
| 1995 | First Prize for drawing by the RAS of New South Wales, Australia |
| 1994 | First Prize and Gold Medal by the Rotary Club of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia |
| 1990 | First Prize and the Special Prize, Annual Exhibition, RAS of Victoria, Australia; First Prize and Highly Commended in the Mercedes Benz Youth Scholarship by the RAS of New South Wales of Australia |
| 1989 | Awarded prizes and the Special Prize in the annual exhibition associated with the RAS of Victoria of Australia |
Grants |
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| 2024 | Artists in Residence, Schütz Art Museum, Engelhartszell, Upper Austria |
| 2020 | Artists in Residence, Q21, Vienna, Austria |
| 2014 | Artists in Residence, Chateau de la Napoule, Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France |
| 2013 | Artists in Residency, UNESCO-Welterbe Zollverein, Essen, Germany |
| 2011 | Artists in Residence, Kulturzentrum Pasinger Fabrik, Munich, Germany |
| 2010 | Artists in Residence, Neuhauser Kunstmühle, Salzburg, Austria; Multipoint International Art Symposium 2010, Nitra, Slovakia |
| 2009 | Artists in Residence, Neuhauser Kunstmühle, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2006 | Artists in Residence, Neuhauser Kunstmühle, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2003 | Artists in Residence, Galerie Schloss Neuhaus, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2001 | Artists in Residence, Galerie Schloss Neuhaus, Salzburg, Austria, in conjunction with a group exhibition, titled Salzburg in Neuen Ansichten |
| 1991 | Awarded the Overseas Study Travel Grant (Europe) by the Rotary Club of Camberwell, Victoria, Australia; Awarded the Mercedes Benz Youth Scholarship for the study of fine art in New York, by the RAS of New South Wales, Australia |
Solo Exhibitions |
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| 2019 | Dramatized Propositions, The Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio |
| 2016 | DRENCHED Monumental Watercolors By Paul Ching – Bor, Harold B.Lemmerman Gallery, New Jersey City University, Jersey City, New Jersey |
| 2015 | Paul Ching – Bor IMBUED, Stadtische Galerie im Schloss, Isny, Germany; SUR Paintings By Paul Ching – Bor, Richard M.Ross Art Museum, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio |
| 2013 | Künstlerhaus Marktoberdorf – Paul Ching-Bor | Dynamik der Stille, Marktoberdorf, Germany |
| 2011 | Schultz Contemporary – Berlin, Paul Ching – Bor Parallel Passage, Berlin, Germany; NEUHAUSER KUNSTMüHLE, NEUHAUSER KUNSTMüHLE – SOMMERAUSSTELLUNG PAUL CHING – BOR, Salzburg, Austria; |
| 2010 | ART KARLSRUHE 2011/ONE ARTIST/PAUL CHING – BOR Werke 1992 – 2010, Karlsruhe, Germany |
| 2006 | Reeves Contemporary, New York, Chelsea, New York City; Neuhauser Kunstmühle, Sommerausstellung der Neuhauser Kunstmühle: Paul Ching-Bor, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2005 | Spanierman Gallery, LLC, High Anxiety— New York City, New York City |
| 2004 | Graydon Gallery, In Transit, Brisbane, Australia |
| 2002 | Spanierman Gallery, LLC, Echo in Steel, New York City; Glen Eira City Gallery, The Pilgrimage, Traveling exhibition, Melbourne, Australia; Vista Blue Contemporary Art Gallery, The Pilgrimage, Traveling exhibition, Sydney, Australia; Schloss Neuhaus, Der Neuhauser Herbst, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2000 | Mary Place Gallery, Oppressive Glory, Traveling exhibition, Sydney, Australia; Butler Institute of American Art, Oppressive Glory, Traveling exhibition, Youngstown, Ohio, USA |
| 1998 | Brighton Horizons Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia |
| 1997 | Brighton Horizons Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia |
| 1996 | Brighton Horizons Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia |
| 1994 | Brighton Horizons Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia |
| 1993 | Melalecua Gallery, Anglesea, Australia; Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, Australia |
| 1992 | Brighton Horizon Art Gallery, Melbourne, Australia |
| 1991 | Melaleuca Gallery, Anglesea, Australia |
| 1990 | Hilton International, Sydney, Australia |
Juried Exhibitions |
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| 2016 | The 2016 New Jersey Arts Annual: Fine Arts, The Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University, Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| 2015 | Personal Structures: Crossing Borders, Palazzo Mora/Palazzo Bembo, The 56th Biennale di Venezia 2015, Venice, Italy |
| 2008 | Art On Paper 2008, The Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro, North Carolina |
| 2005 | Allentown Art Museum 29th Juried Show, Myth, Magic, and Meaning, Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| 2003 | 67th National Annual midyear Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio |
| 2002 | Allentown Art Museum 28th Juried Show, Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| 2000 | Allentown Art Museum 27th Juried Show, Allentown, Pennsylvania |
| 1999 | Watercolor West 31st Annual Juried Exhibition, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside California; 36th Annual Juried Exhibition, Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, New York |
Group Exhibitions – selected |
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| 2024 |
IMPRESSIONS OF ETERNITY / Watercolor in search of light and colours, Frascati, Italy |
| 2023 |
The watercolor on the routes of Grand Tour 2023 – L’Acquarello sulle vie del Grand Tour 2023, Frascati, Italy |
| 2022 |
LE MOSTRE A MONZA IN ACQUARELLO 2022, Monza, Italy |
| 2018 |
Open Space, The Finite Frontier, Curtis Center for the Art, Greenwood Village, Denver, Colorado; Chinese Abstraction, Cynthia-Reeves, North Adams, Massachusetts; Seattle Art Fair, Seattle |
| 2017 |
PHASES, Art 345, New York City |
| 2016 |
States of Water, States of Mind, Art 345, New York City, SPECTRUM, Art 345, New York City |
| 2015 |
ON + OF PAPER, Art 345, New York City; The Real World, Eckert Fine Art, Pine Plains, New York |
| 2014 |
MUSE, Works On Paper, Anderson Contemporary, New York City |
| 2013 |
New Jersey State Council on the Arts:Visual Arts Fellowship Showcase Exhibition, Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, Long Beach Island, New Jersey; FÜNF FÜR BERLIN UFERHALLEN, Berlin, Germany; URBANISM PAUL CHING- BOR+ SHARON FEDER, Goodwin Fine Art, Denver, Colorado |
| 2012 |
Einladung in die temporären kulturellen Zonen, “KUNSTRÄUME”/ “ART SPACES” Frankfurt, Germany |
| 2011 |
Stefan Beltzig / Paul Ching –Bor Expatriots From New York, Kunstpavillon, Munich, Germany; BABYLONS SCHATTEN III, KunsthalleWhiteBox, Munich, Germany; MUNICH CONTEMPO –International Contemporary Art Fair, Munich, Germany |
| 2010 |
MULTIPOINT INTERNATIONAL ART SYMPOSIUM 2010 — PROXIMITY, Gallery UNIVERZUM, University of Constantine the Philosopher, Nitra, Slovakia; GE 4th Annual Asian Pacific Heritage Month Art Exhibition, General Electric Company, Fairfield, Connecticut |
| 2009 |
“Metropolitan Memories” Hudson County Arts Annual 2009, The Brennan Gallery at Justice William Brennan Court House, Jersey City, New Jersey; State Of The Art 2009: National Biennial Watercolor Invitational, Parkland Art Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, Illinois |
| 2008 |
Sprawl, Jersey City Museum, Jersey City, New Jersey |
| 2004 |
New York City in Art, Spanierman Gallery, New York |
| 2003 |
Steindruck 03, Galerie Schloss Neuhaus, Salzburg, Austria;Ching – Bor / Lehmpfuhl Lithographien Aus Der Werkstatt, Galerie Schloss Neuhaus, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2002 |
Steel City, Sangre De Cristo Arts & Conference Center, Pueblo, Colorado; Allied Artists of America 2002 Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York City |
| 2001 |
Salzburg in Neuen Ansichten, Galerie Schloss Neuhaus, Salzburg, Austria |
| 2000 |
64th Annual Midyear Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Watercolor USA 2000, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri |
| 1999 |
Paper Works 99, Ridgefield Guild of Artists, Connecticut; 63rd Annual Midyear Exhibition, Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Watercolor USA 1999 Exhibition, Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri; Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors 18th Annual Exhibition, Arts Guild of Old Forge, New York; Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition 1999, Foothills Art Center, Golden, Colorado; Allied Artists of America 1999 Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York City |
| 1998 |
Allied Artists of America 1998 Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York City |
| 1997 |
Allied Artists of America 1997 Annual Exhibition, National Arts Club, New York City; American Artists Professional League Annual Exhibition, New York City |
| 1996 |
The Contemporary Realism Exhibition, Philadelphia; Wynne Prize Exhibitions 1996; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia |
| 1995 |
Wynne Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize Touring Exhibition, regional galleries in N.S.W. and Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| 1994 |
Wynne Prize Exhibition, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia |
| 1989 |
Sydney Morning Herald Art Prize Exhibition, associated with the City of Sydney Cultural Council, Australia |
Publications |
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MUSE, work on paper / a gang of five, Written by prof. Gerard Haggerty, New York City, 2016 Verdichtete Leerräume, süddeutsche zeitung Von, KULTUR, Munich, Germany, 23. January 2013. Written by Sabine Reithmaier Unheimlicher Luftraumübereiner Stadtaus Stahl, with the catalogue DYNAMIK DER STILLE/PAUL CHING – BOR, Published by Künstlerhaus Marktoberdorf, Martoberdorf, Germany. Written by Prof. Dr. Manfred SCHNECKENBURGER Die Dynamik Der Stille, with the catalogue PAUL CHING – BOR, published by NEUHAUSER KUNSTMüHLE, Salzburg, Austria. Written by Dr. Nikolaus TOPIC -MATUTIN Dunkle Nähe, Helle Ferne, with the catalogue PAUL CHING -BOR, published by NEUHAUSER KUNSTMüHLE, Salzburg, Austria. Written by Dr. Elmar ZORN Big Promise/ Salzburg 3: The Kunstmühle Presents the Artist Paul Ching -Bor, Süddeutsche Zeitung, KUNSTMARKT, Munich, Germany, 20./21. August 2011. Written by Dr. Gottfried KNAPP Urbane Geheimnisse / Paul Ching-Bor Watercolor – Stadtlandschaften, Kunst & Material KüNSTLERPORTRAIT – PAUL CHING – BOR, Schutzgebühr, Germany, Nov. / Dec. 2011. Written by Dr. Elmar ZORN Paul Ching – Bor: Bild Landschaften -von Verantwortung Getragen, ART PROFILE, AUSSTELLUNGEN, Germany, September 2011 New York Reviews, Artnews, May 2002 Introduction with the catalogue Paul Ching- Bor / Echoes in Steel, Published by Spanierman Gallery, LLC, New York City. Written by Dr. Prof. Louis A. Zona Artist’s journey of Discovery, Mosman Daily, Sydney Australia, July 2002 Butler features watercolor exhibit, The Vindicator: Scene, September 2000 Introduction, Paul Ching- Bor: East Meets West, with the catalogue PAUL CHING- BOR / OPPRESSIVE GLORY, written by Dr. Prof. Louis A. Zona, and Gary T. Erbe I’ll take Manhattan, International Artist, August/September 1998 Finding a balance, Australian Artist, June 1991 |
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Collections |
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| Hilton International, Sydney; Shell Chemicals, Melbourne; Camberwell Civic Centre, Melbourne; Mobil Oil, Melbourne; Pioneer International, Sydney; Club Marine Insurance, Melbourne; Pacific Seasons, Melbourne; Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, Missouri; Ritz Carlton, New York, New York; Grand Hyatt International, Tokyo; Park Hyatt, Shanghai; Neuhauser Kunstmühle – Galerie und Druckwerkstatt, Salzburg; Sparkasse Bank, Salzburg; Mandarin Oriental Hotel, New York, New York; The Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, South Carolina. | |
| Private Collections in Australia, United States of America, Japan, England and Europe | |