Chinese master joins students
in Met’s New Year display

To welcome the Chinese New Year, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila will open an exhibit on Chinese painting entitled Enlivening the Past, Shaping the Future: Master Hau Chiok and His Students.

Hau Chiok, a Filipino of Chinese descent, has been teaching and propagating Chinese art for over 40 years. His most important collaborator is his wife and partner, Sy Chiu Hua, whom he also mentored.

Hau Chiok is a master of various aspects and processes of Chinese traditional art – from painting, calligraphy, seal carving, to scroll making. His expertise is a product of innate talent, discipline, and perseverance that have also been harnessed while he was studying under master artists such as Prof. Zhao Shao-Ang of the famed Ling Nan School, and finger-painter Wu Zai Yan. Eventually, Hau Chiok would be conferred the title of master as well.

Hau Chiok’s art and life demonstrate the creative interaction of Chinese cultural traditions with contemporary Philippine social norms. The immense talent of Master Hau is evident in his works, which uses to great advantage the wealth of meanings associated with Chinese art. However, his greater achievement can be seen in the impressive quality of works produced by students he has taught.

Among the students exhibiting their works alongside their teacher are Elizabeth Ang, Irene Araneta, Angela Hong Carlos, Valeria Cavestany, Cesar Cheng, Betty Luz Chua, Carmen Buensalida Chua, Nely Jao Chua, Winnie Sy Co, Ylaine Co, Milagros I. Dolores, Jane Evans. Lydia Yu Jose, John Chua Joven, Siu Gim G. Lim, Liu Lanying, Juliet Lao, Julius Limpe, Vivian Siy Ng Betty Rodriguez, Marivic Rufino, Elizabeth Cua Tan, Mila Tan, George Uy, Naty S. Chan-Yu, Abbie Lu Zarate, and Frankie Zarate.

The exhibit will be open to the public from February 7 until April 7, 2008 at the Upper Galleries of the Met Museum. In conjunction with the exhibit, Hau Chiok will be giving a demonstration of Chinese Painting entitled New Year Festivity: A Demonstration of Chinese Painting, Materials and Methods from 2-4 p.m. on on February 9.

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Manila. Museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. For inquiries, call 523 7855, 521 1517 or email info@metmuseum.ph.