As her mother is renowned artist Nancy Chu Woo, there lies circumstantial expectation that from that gene pool, droplets of creative distinction would have dribbled down to daughter Rebecca Woo.
Just as we are making our introductions, a friend who happens to be present brings out her one endeavour with the paintbrush.
The large acrylic canvas leaves the most verbose a bit speechless. Well, it's colourful, and clearly Rebecca can move paint from palette to paper, but her attempts at Art Jam have not wowed friends or family.
"My parents were not entirely supportive of this attempt of mine. So a few friends and I did a switch with one of my mother's paintings in the dining room before they hosted a dinner party. She didn't notice till everyone was seated," says Rebecca with a shy grin. "Taking the humour in stride, my mother laughed. One of the guests apparently even remarked on her change in style!"
Fortunately, her current job in equity sales at a top US investment bank does not require fine arts credentials. She more than makes up for any lack of direct artistic ability with interest and admiration for the arts.
"What appeals to me is the fusion of almost traditional brushwork with a modern, often abstract, aesthetic; the 17th century Buddhist monk artist Bada Shanren, or 'master of the lotus garden,' is one of my all-time favourites," Woo explains. "When I worked in the US, his retrospective at Yale really struck a chord with me. The art was very Zen, very simple and highly expressive. His usage of blank or negative space was very distinctive."
Her disparate interests reflects the person behind the banker persona. A staunch supporter of the arts, and not just because of her lineage (even her doctor father plays the violin), Woo is known to be low-key, and chances of finding her at a swanky party or club are slimmer than she is. How many number-crunchers would prefer to substitute the cocktail circuit with an art fair in Europe?
"Last year, I was at the Basel Art Fair, which must be one of the world's premier gatherings to showcase modern art in all forms. It was particularly encouraging to see a growing representation of Asian art galleries and artists," she continues. "It was incredible, just incredible, to see all this in one space over a few days. Almost an aesthetic overload!"
Surrounded by paintings and sculpture that set the mood of the living and dining rooms of her parents' home, she points out three large scrolls by her mother - a nude triptych - done simply, using black Chinese ink. Her intentions to home them at her residence was, she says "gazzumped" by her father. But other works by her mother and bought at exhibitions as well as sculptures she's seen around the world have found spots chez Woo.
"Strong lines draw me in, whether in a painting, or the lines in classic Chinese furniture or any type of sculpture. Simple, understated, expressive, having the ability to transcend time - that's what I look out for," she says, demarcating her preference and style. Perhaps the same words could reverberate when describing her wardrobe, as her finely cut Akira Isagawa summer dress seems to murmur understated simplicity.
As the photographer adjusts the lights, moves some of the furniture around and throws assorted instructions, she remains nonplussed, even blocking out the din of her boisterous friends and remaining persistently focused.
Woo reflects, "When we were young, my brother and I were taken to museums and exhibitions, and my mother always made it fun for us. She would send us on a search mission, be it for the number of blue flowers in a ceramic pieces or count the number of particular figures that appear repeatedly in various paintings. She made it a game and we were quiet, concentrating and didn't trouble anyone for hours."
It is this ability to focus that has persisted over the years as a child, student and beyond. She did her undergrad at Harvard, earning a bachelor's degree in East Asian studies, and followed it with a Master's at London University in the same field.
While others mouth lofty ambitions to sail the seven seas and stomp across the globe, Woo systemically plans her exotic trips and hits the road.
"At the end of the year, some friends and I are hopefully going to the Silk road for a couple of weeks, which I am really looking forward to. I went to Patagonia two years ago, which is a beautiful, untouched part of southern Chile. I've gone trekking in Bhutan, canoed through the Okavango Delta....."
A voice from the background exclaims: "She's always doing 10 things at a time! She does yoga, karate, plays tennis, runs, is always suggesting a concert of sorts, wanting to take up language lessons, cooking something exotic."
In conclusive agreement, she says, "There is so much of the world to explore and experience, always something new to learn."
Credits: Image Seated nude ink & gouache on rice paper, by Nancy Choo Woo.
Update:
Wow, this was over a decade ago. The interview was fun and Rebecca was great chat - but what I remember from that day, the art director and photographer getting into an argument mid shoot and mid interview. The first and last time I worked with him - I can't even remember his name.
May 2021
No comments:
Post a Comment