We are pleased to announce the first solo exhibition of work by Aka Chio. Presented and organized by AC Arts Company and Jam Cast Management (HK) Ltd. together with ZZHK Gallery, HER is an exhibition and sale to benefit the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres, opening reception with the artist in attendance on Thursday, 21 December, 2017 at ZZHK Gallery in Sheung Wan. Sale proceeds of the exhibition will benefit HKFWC’s Women's Relief and Support Fund.

 

The exhibition entitled HER, is an exploration into the artist’s idea of womanhood and female identity within contemporary society. The surreal characters in Aka Chio’s twenty illustrative drawings, depict the diverse state, condition and role of women. Chio has always been concerned with the issues of women’s rights and welfare, such as trauma in marriage, financial and parenting stress and the difficulty in seeking help. 

 

By using pen and ink on paper and focusing on the visual power of black and white, Chio recreates these fictitious female characters that she imagines, which is a mixture of people that she has seen in real life, in films, media and comics, bringing the work together into this exhibition is to draw attention to these vulnerable groups of HER. In her work Eye of Heart [1], Chio cuts out the figure’s eyes, leaving it hollow and half covered with a hand, while a bright eye glowing inside HER heart, SHE will see with HER heart. Poison is Poisonless [2], illustrates the baby mushrooms growing exuberantly under the shelter of the big poisonous mushroom, indicating the delicate relationship between mother and child. In another work in this exhibition, titled Heart in Heart [3], a woman is transformed into a mermaid guarding her baby in a tsunami night. In the work The Cage [4], a woman was trapped in a golden cage symbolizing the situation where women have no gateway to freedom and feel like trapped, isolated and dejected.

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About Aka Chio

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Aka Chio was born in Macau and graduated from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2008 with an associate’s degree in design. She lives and works in Hong Kong and currently is a member of the Hong Kong Cantopop girl group "Super Girls". Chio has collaborated with a number of reputable fashion brands including I.T and K-SWISS and Macau Yeng Kee Bakery, creating drawings for their advertisements and merchandise. Chio also has a deep interests in social welfare and community art activities. In 2015, she was invited by Green Power to be the Principal Guests of the year’s “We Love Butterflies Day” and participated in their "BUTTERFLY X ART Installation Art Exhibition". The same year Chio also hand drew tote bags as Mother's Day gifts to the needy families during the "School Like" event organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. In 2017, Chio did a painting performance for the "Flying Pig Art Exhibition" a charity event by K for Kids Foundation.

About Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centers

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Founded in 1981, the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres concern about the situation of grassroots women, and promote gender equality in Hong Kong through services, education and advocacy. Through our four women centres in Sham Shui Po, Tai Wo, Fanling and Sheung Shui, we develop volunteer networks, provide appropriate services for women, and develop their potential. HKFWC enables women to develop their Confidence, Independence and Competence. Aimed at supporting women who face urgent financial needs and yet not be covered by the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme (CSSA) or any other emergency funding, Women’s Relief and Support Fund of HKFWC help maintain their basic living.