Luke Ching Chin Wai

{{Short description|Hong Kong conceptual artist & labour activist (born 1972)}} {{Like resume|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox artist | honorific_prefix = | name = Luke Ching Chin Wai | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | native_name = 程展緯 | native_name_lang = Chinese | birth_date = 1972 | birth_place = Hong Kong | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | nationality = | residence = | education = BA Fine Art, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996; Master of Fine Art, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998 | alma_mater = | known_for = | notable_works = | style = | home_town = | movement = | spouse = | partner = | awards =  | elected = | patrons = | memorials = | website = {{URL|http://www.galleryexit.com/ching-luke.html}} | module = }} '''Luke Ching Chin Wai''' ({{lang|zh-Hant|程展緯}}; born 1972) is a conceptual artist and labour activist from Hong Kong. His artistic practice twists the role of the artist and observer and has created works which, with a mix of humour, respond to the cultural and political collisions in Hong Kong.<ref name='Exit'>{{cite web | url = http://www.galleryexit.com/ching-luke.html | title = Luke CHING 程展緯 | publisher = Exit Gallery | access-date = 2020-02-23}}</ref> He studied at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and graduated with an MA in Fine Art in 1998.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.cfcca.org.uk/index.php/Detail/library/3472 | title = Digital File '1 degree_website.doc' (GB3451/OC/D/1801/963) | date = 2009-09-04 | publisher = Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art | access-date = 2020-02-23}}</ref> He has participated in exhibitions and residencies worldwide.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cobosocial.com/dossiers/south-ho-force-majeure-and-ching-chin-wai-liquefied-sunshine-a-review/ | title = South Ho's Force Majeure and Luke Ching's Liquefied Sunshine | last = Yeung | first = Yang | date = 2019 | access-date = 2020-02-24 | quote = }}</ref>

==Artistic practice== Ching's works range from photography, sculpture and video to social intervention, often made as a spontaneous response to his surroundings.<ref name= 'Look17'>{{cite web | url = https://lookphotofestivalblog.wordpress.com/2017/03/04/look17-luke-ching/ | title = Look/17: Luke Ching | date = 4 March 2017 | publisher = Liverpool International Photography Festival | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> His artistic practices are based upon his belief in agency and responsibility of the artist for social purposes.<ref name='Leung'>{{Citation | last = Leung | first = Suzannie K. Y | title = Socially engaged arts: Luke Ching's practices for Hong Kong | journal =The International Journal of Social, Political, and Community Agendas in the Arts | volume = 14 | issue = 4 | pages = 25–35 | date = 2019-11-28 | language = English | doi = 10.18848/2326-9960/CGP/v14i04/25-35| s2cid = 212845318 }}</ref>

Since 2007 in his ongoing project ''undercover worker'', he has worked in different low paid jobs in Hong Kong to experience their working environments and make first-hand observations of working conditions.<ref name='Undercover worker'>{{cite web | url = https://www.visibleproject.org/blog/project/undercover-worker/ | title = Award 2019 – Shortlisted Undercover worker – Luke Ching | publisher = Visible Project | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> He used his project to visualize problems hidden within Hong Kong and connect different situations and lead several campaigns to improve working conditions of low paid workers.<ref name='Leung'></ref> As part of his 'labour campaigns', he has successfully improved working conditions for low paid workers, such as providing chairs for security guards and cashiers; provided a new design for public rubbish bins to make cleaner’s job easier; and urged the city’s Labour Department to improve health & safety standards related to prolonged standing.<ref name='Undercover worker'></ref> His work has launched collaborative activities to encourage employers make positive changes and raise awareness of worker’s welfare.<ref name='Leung'></ref>

He also uses pinhole photography, installations and video works to document of the rapid changes to Hong Kong and other cities.<ref>{{Citation | last = Wilson | first = Henrietta | title = For now we see through a window, dimly: Luke Ching | journal = AsiaArtPacific | date = 2016 | language = English | url = http://artasiapacific.com/Magazine/WebExclusives/ForNowWeSeeThroughAWindowDimly | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> In 2017 he turned a hotel room at the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool into a pinhole camera for the Look Liverpool International Photography Festival.<ref>{{citation | last = Goodbody | first = Pete |title = "Playing With Time": Artist Luke Ching Makes Giant Pinhole Camera For Look/17 | journal = Double Negative | date = 2017 | url = http://www.thedoublenegative.co.uk/2017/02/playing-with-time-luke-chings-giant-pinhole-cameras-for-look17/ | access-date = 2020-02-23}}</ref>

His works ''Pokfulam Village: View (Positive)'' (1999), ''Screensaver'' (2014), ''1823: Complex Pile'' (2014), and ''Pixel'' (2014) are collected by M+. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Luke Ching Chin Wai {{!}} Makers {{!}} M+ |url=https://www.mplus.org.hk/en/collection/makers/luke-ching-chin-wai/ |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=www.mplus.org.hk |language=en-US}}</ref>thumb|220px|Exhibition ''Glitch in the Matrix'' at Para Site in 2021

==Art residencies== <ref name='Exit'></ref> * 2020 Helsinki International Artist Programme<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hiap.fi/resident/luke-ching-chin-wai/ | title = Luke Ching Chin Wai | publisher = Helsinki International Artist Programme | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> * 2012 Breath, Chinese Arts Centre, UK<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.cfcca.org.uk/index.php/Detail/occurrences/479 | title = Breathe Residency (People's Residency): Luke Ching, 16 July - 16 September 2012 | publisher = Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> * 2008 plAAy: Hide and Seek, Blackburn Museum, UK <ref name="plaay">{{cite web |date=25 May 2009 |title=plAAy: Contemporary Asian Art in Blackburn with Darwen Archive |url=https://plaayblackburn.wordpress.com/archive/ |access-date=2020-02-23 |publisher=Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery}}</ref>

==Awards== * 2019 shortlisted Visible Award for Undercover Worker Project<ref name='Undercover worker'></ref> * 2016 Hong Kong Arts Development Council Artist of the Year: Visual Arts<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hkadc.org.hk/?p=18721&lang=en | title = Awardee List 2016 | publisher = Hong Kong Arts Development Council | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref> * 2005 Photography Award Winner, Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition 2005, Hong Kong<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200508/29/P200508290104.htm | title = Hong Kong Art Biennial 2005 results announced | publisher = Hong Kong Arts Development Council | access-date = 2020-02-24}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.galleryexit.com/ching-luke.html Exit Gallery Profile] * [http://archive.cfcca.org.uk/index.php/Detail/entities/515 Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art Archive & Library Profile] * [https://aaa.org.hk/en/collection/event-database/search/actors-id:1009 Luke Ching in the Asia Art Archive]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ching, Luke Chin Wai}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Hong Kong artists Category:Conceptual artists Category:Chinese contemporary artists Category:Alumni of the Chinese University of Hong Kong