Art
No Order Magazine talks with the artist.
Ruth Cho is an emerging printmaker and artist based in Brisbane (Meanjin) who explores themes of cultural identity, hybridity and postcolonialism in her art practice. She graduated from the Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major in Print Media) in 2018 and with Honours in 2020.
Through the printed image, she examines the complexities of living with a cross-cultural background and the challenges it poses in the socio-political sphere. Ideally, she aims to find common ground and promote harmony between cultures in an increasingly diversified world where boundaries are becoming obsolete. She is currently exhibiting in galleries within the Brisbane area.
How did your career begin?
I still think I’m in the midst of figuring out or building my career. I began to take it seriously when One Space gallery approached me to be one of their represented artists after I finished my Honours degree at QCA. I’m very grateful to be a part of their gallery and to work with the team who are very supportive and passionate about my practice and art. I feel like I really lucked out.
Do you have a set process when it comes to making work and is there a part of that process that people may find surprising?
I don’t have a set process, it’s always pretty spontaneous and fairly loose. I think people may find it surprising since printmaking techniques can be so meticulous. I usually begin with an image which is transferred onto the lino block using tracing paper. After I’ve gone over it in pen, I then carve the image out using my lino tools. The way I carve is pretty spontaneous too. There are so many marks that form unintentionally but add to the overall aesthetic of the work. I try not to think about it or try too hard when making, because I like the accidental details and marks of a print. So when making my prints, I try to not be controlling and embrace the uncertainty of the process and outcome.
Mural for Fish Lane, 2023
Is there a memorable moment in your journey as a creative that you didn’t know would impact your career?
It doesn’t seem like a big thing to many, but the most memorable moment was going against my parents’ wishes and choosing to continue art in an institution like QCA. It exposed me to print and allowed me to establish a close knit community of printmakers and other fellow artists. We all support each other through the ups and downs of our artistic careers. It was going to QCA that led to other key moments like One Space gallery approaching me, which then led to opportunities to work for great organisations like Museum of Brisbane, Outer Space and Fish Lane.
Read the full interview in Issue 03
Published: 16th September 2023