Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho 何珈寧
cjenniferho@gmail.com
My multidisciplinary practice explores
cultural systems and their disparities through the lens of language. Growing up
in Taiwan, the societal emphasis on language proficiency was not just an
academic pursuit; it also influenced individuals' professional and social
status. This value system piqued my interest in language and its relationship
with identity, power, and politics. In a racially conscious society, the
nuances in the production and reception of a simple question like "How are
you?" can reveal one's background and social standing. I am fascinated by
how language's performativity and embedded social power can manifest even in
the most basic words. Constantly toggling between English and my mother tongue,
Mandarin, I am also drawn to the complexities of translation and assimilation.
My work captures the fragmentation of language in translation, reflecting my own experience navigating and positioning myself between different cultures. The use of text and office stationery in my work symbolizes standardized work environments, echoing my upbringing in Taiwan, where conformity and career achievement are highly valued. Repurposing file organizers, labels, and highlighters—tools typically used to reinforce systems and maintain records—becomes my way of proposing and preserving new ways of thinking. I often incorporate found images and texts with specific cultural connotations, particularly English learning materials. By extracting, deconstructing, and rearranging these materials, I cultivate new perspectives and foster a deeper understanding of different cultures, seeking poetic meanings and connections within them.
Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho (b. 1992, Taipei, Taiwan) lives and works in New Haven, CT. Ho’s work has been exhibited at 18th Street Arts Center in California; The Bronx Museum of the Arts; Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art; NARS Foundation; Below Grand Gallery; Pratt Institute in New York (United States); Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei (Taiwan). Ho has participated in residencies at 18th Street Arts Center, LMCC Arts Center at Governors Island, and NARS Foundation. Recent awards and fellowships include the Bronx Museum of the Arts AIM Fellowship, PRATT>FORWARD Fellowship, the National Culture and Arts Foundation of Taiwan-International Exchange fellowship, Massachusetts AAPI Artist Grant, Pratt MFA merit award, Graduate Student Education Fund, and Stutzman Family Foundation Fellowship. Ho received her MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute.
My work captures the fragmentation of language in translation, reflecting my own experience navigating and positioning myself between different cultures. The use of text and office stationery in my work symbolizes standardized work environments, echoing my upbringing in Taiwan, where conformity and career achievement are highly valued. Repurposing file organizers, labels, and highlighters—tools typically used to reinforce systems and maintain records—becomes my way of proposing and preserving new ways of thinking. I often incorporate found images and texts with specific cultural connotations, particularly English learning materials. By extracting, deconstructing, and rearranging these materials, I cultivate new perspectives and foster a deeper understanding of different cultures, seeking poetic meanings and connections within them.
Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho (b. 1992, Taipei, Taiwan) lives and works in New Haven, CT. Ho’s work has been exhibited at 18th Street Arts Center in California; The Bronx Museum of the Arts; Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art; NARS Foundation; Below Grand Gallery; Pratt Institute in New York (United States); Songshan Cultural and Creative Park in Taipei (Taiwan). Ho has participated in residencies at 18th Street Arts Center, LMCC Arts Center at Governors Island, and NARS Foundation. Recent awards and fellowships include the Bronx Museum of the Arts AIM Fellowship, PRATT>FORWARD Fellowship, the National Culture and Arts Foundation of Taiwan-International Exchange fellowship, Massachusetts AAPI Artist Grant, Pratt MFA merit award, Graduate Student Education Fund, and Stutzman Family Foundation Fellowship. Ho received her MFA in Sculpture from Pratt Institute.
Jennifer Chia-Ling Ho 何珈寧 ©2024