Mr Blue Sky
An Australian-born artist of Chinese descent, Jessi Wong is inspired by the natural landscape, the earth, and the sky.
Wong’s works are a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese scroll paintings incorporating printmaking and paper installation. The softness of the paper is highlighted with the box and acrylic framing, creating a sense of preciousness suitably attributed to the natural world.
“When I try to print an edition of ten, I may only have three or four that are perfect. I’m actually quite a terrible printer in that traditional sense, but I am getting better. There are still so many accidents along the way but somehow, that works with all the scrolls. The way in which I print is evocative of the natural environment because nothing is ever perfect, but it all has its own beauty.
“I tear up paper to use as stencils to block out or define colours: it is all uncontrolled and random, so you never know what you’re going to get until the rolls are secured. Few things are made with intention, just possibilities.”
Medium: Woodblock print on rice paper
Framed Size: 1040mm x 780mm x 70mm
Year Completed: 2020
Jessi Wong is an artist working and living in Melbourne, Australia.
Wong completed her Master of Fine Art (coursework) in printmaking at RMIT and has exhibited nationwide and internationally. Jessi has been shortlisted for several award exhibitions including the Silkcut Award, Fremantle Print Award, Burnie Print Prize, and the Swan Hill Print and Drawing Acquisitive Prize.
Qualifications and Education:
2009 Master of Fine Art, RMIT University
2005 Bachelor of Fine Art (Printmaking), RMIT University
Solo Exhibitions:
2021 Aftermath and Rebirth, Printmaker Gallery, Fitzroy
2020 Quite Contrary, with Helen Kocis Edwards, Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
2020 Water Studio 21, Artery Co-op
2018 Art Wall City of Yarra Richmond Library, Victoria
2018 Papercutz Red Gallery, Fitzroy North
2017 Platinum 20 years APW Collie Print Trust scholarships Project Space, RMIT
2015 Youth Plus MOCA Museum, Beijing
2015 National Focus: Art from the Australian Print Workshop G.R.A.I.N. store, Nathalia
2015 Art Central Art Fair Hong Kong
2014 Tactile Pleasure, Apollo Bay VIC
2013 1000 Tears with Helen Kocis Edwards, Fracture Gallery, Federation Square Melbourne
2013 Cataclysm solo exhibition, Anita Traverso Gallery
2013 Sofia paper art fest, Bulgaria
2013 Northern Lights Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
2013, 2011 Burnie Print Prize Burnie Regional Art Gallery, TAS (finalist)
2012 Future Visions Festival d'Australie group show, Divonne-les-Baines, France
2012 Fremantle Print Award WA (finalist)
2012 The Map's Vocabulary Red Gallery, Fitzroy North VIC
2012 Before the Storm Anita Traverso Gallery, Richmond VIC
2012, 2010 Swan Hill National Print and Drawing Award, Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery, VIC (finalist)
2011 Drowning Port Jackson Press little window of opportunity VIC
2011 Weapons of Mass Consumption Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery VIC
2011 Port Jackson Press Graduate Printmaking Award (highly commended)
2009 Eight Ways of Being Here Chinese Museum VIC
2008 Silk Cut Award VIC (finalist)
Residencies:
2019 Red Gate Residency, Beijing China
Grants, Scholarships, Awards:
2020 Myer Foundation National Assistance Program for the Arts
2011 Art Start Emerging Artist Grant, Australia Council for the Arts
2010 Collie Print Trust Postgraduate Scholarship, Australian Print Workshop
Collections:
Beijing Peninsula Hotel Art Collection, Beijing CHINA
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Airport Collection, HONG KONG
City of Yarra, Town Hall, Melbourne AUSTRALIA
Copelouzos Family Art Museum, Athens GREECE
Crowne Gold Coast, Queensland AUSTRALIA
Deakin University Art Collection, Melbourne AUSTRALIA
National Gallery Australia (Australian Print Workshop "Impressions" Collections) AUSTRALIA
Ontario College of Art and Design, Ontario CANADA
RMIT University, AUSTRALIA
Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia USA