Yuen

KEE-HO YUEN

Coralville, Iowa

Bio

Kee-ho Yuen was born in Hong Kong in 1956. He received a B.A. from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1983 and an M.F.A. in Metalsmithing and Jewelry from The University of Iowa in 1989. He is currently a Professor and the Head of the University of Iowa Jewelry and Metal Arts program.

Regardless of vast social and technological changes, basic human emotions and interactions remain the same. Fascinated and inspired by how timeless some old Chinese literature is in this particular subject, my work is a collage of what I learn from it. I prefer to capture it by resonating between seriousness and whimsicality. I do not intend to use my work to convince anyone but use it as a reminder for myself not to drift too far from the attitudes I believe to be important in life. Some of my work is purely an aesthetic and technical investigation. I employ an eclectic use of contemporary and traditional technologies and materials, ranging from advanced 3-D computer modeling and CNC machining, to traditional fabrications and enameling.

Work by Kee-ho has been acquired by the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom; the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC; the Museum of Arts and Design (formerly American Craft Museum), New York; The Racine Art Museum, Racine, Wisconsin; the Museum of Art, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; the University of Iowa Museum of Art, Iowa City, Iowa; the Cedar Rapids Museum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa; the Waterloo Museum, Waterloo, Iowa as well as other institutions.

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Artist Statement

Regardless of vast social and technological changes, basic human emotions and interactions remain the same. Fascinated and inspired by how timeless some old Chinese literature is in this subject, my work is a collage of what I learn from it. I prefer to capture it by resonating between seriousness and whimsicality. I do not intend to use my work to convince anyone but use it as a reminder for myself not to drift too far from important attitudes in life.

For example, in the piece Even rabbits crazy about money, the message is that you could work hard like an energizer bunny and make all the money you could, but like a balloon, eventually it will float away and burst. Some of my work is purely an aesthetic and technical investigation. I employ an eclectic use of contemporary and traditional technologies and materials, ranging from advanced 3-D computer modeling and CNC machining to traditional fabrications and enameling.

Even rabbits are crazy about money, 2017-2018, Aluminum, maple, brass, enamel, Delrin, acrylic ink, laser printer ink, and thread, 3x1.25x4.5 in., Courtesy of the artist
Connecting the dots alone, 2020, Anodized aluminum, gold leaf, plexiglass, wood, enamel, brass, laser printer ink, thread, and rock, 2.5x.75x4 in., Courtesy of the artist
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay, 2021, Gold leaf, aluminum, brass, copper, maple, rock, acrylic, acrylic ink, laser printer ink, and thread, 24 in., Courtesy of the artist