Helen Tran
Born and raised in Vietnam, Helen Tran has always been naturally drawn towards creating art as a young girl. Her first watercolour booklet of Disney characters inspired her to paint. She soon later found her passion for the uniqueness of Printmaking. Tran pursued her education in Visual and Creative Arts at Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada and holds a BFA in Printmaking & Publications with a second focus in Photography. She has exhibited her work at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, The Japanese Paper Place, TOAF61 and Visual Arts Mississauga (VAM), Gallery 44 and is currently a resident artist at the Living Arts Centre. Tran is working as an archivist assistant at the Open Studio Contemporary Printmaking Centre in Toronto and an instructor for Linocut Printmaking. Tran is well-versed in many printing techniques; including lithography, relief, silkscreen, and intaglio. Nevertheless, she enjoys working with the versatility of lithography and bookmaking in her spare time. When she is not making prints, she enjoys adventuring outdoors with her 35mm analog film camera, watercolour painting, tapestry and creative writing.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
As a multidisciplinary artist, Tran’s body of work incorporates printmaking methodology with an array of mixed media. She seeks new possibilities in innovative ways to create and present her work ranging from analogue image-making, text art, lithography, and linocut. Tran’s work draws on traditional family ceremonies and funerary rituals that utilize both print media and photography to convey elements of mourning, healing, and ancestral rituals. Tran’s body of work is medium-specific where she experiments and explores materiality in her form of concept, specifically her appreciation for Japanese paper, which further enhances her context of the work.
Born and raised in Vietnam, Helen Tran has always been naturally drawn towards creating art as a young girl. Her first watercolour booklet of Disney characters inspired her to paint. She soon later found her passion for the uniqueness of Printmaking. Tran pursued her education in Visual and Creative Arts at Sheridan College, Oakville, Canada and holds a BFA in Printmaking & Publications with a second focus in Photography. She has exhibited her work at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, The Japanese Paper Place, TOAF61 and Visual Arts Mississauga (VAM), Gallery 44 and is currently a resident artist at the Living Arts Centre. Tran is working as an archivist assistant at the Open Studio Contemporary Printmaking Centre in Toronto and an instructor for Linocut Printmaking. Tran is well-versed in many printing techniques; including lithography, relief, silkscreen, and intaglio. Nevertheless, she enjoys working with the versatility of lithography and bookmaking in her spare time. When she is not making prints, she enjoys adventuring outdoors with her 35mm analog film camera, watercolour painting, tapestry and creative writing.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
As a multidisciplinary artist, Tran’s body of work incorporates printmaking methodology with an array of mixed media. She seeks new possibilities in innovative ways to create and present her work ranging from analogue image-making, text art, lithography, and linocut. Tran’s work draws on traditional family ceremonies and funerary rituals that utilize both print media and photography to convey elements of mourning, healing, and ancestral rituals. Tran’s body of work is medium-specific where she experiments and explores materiality in her form of concept, specifically her appreciation for Japanese paper, which further enhances her context of the work.
$500.00
Cyanotype on Kozo (Japanese paper).
11x14"
Limited edition 2 of 2.
The Chrysanthemums are auspicious florals and are symbolic in East Asia, where they represent blessings, prosperity and longevity. These motifs and archetypal images are typically placed on shrines and often used for celebrations such as the Lunar New Year. During the Fall season, I had the opportunity to gather multiple yellow chrysanthemums in my garden. The Chrysanthemums were then photographed and developed into cyanotypes.
$500.00
Cyanotype on Kozo (Japanese paper) - Framed.
11x14"
Limited edition 2 of 2.
Titled "Vessel of Offerings II”. This series is a cyanotype print depicting teacup sets that convey a photographic dialogue of tea offering rituals. Metaphorically, it has connotations of holding conversations or blessings. Tea ceremonies are customary practice in Eastern Asia where it represents respect, blessing, bonding and peace. A tradition within my Vietnamese household where sacred spaces that hold shrines and/or altars to serve our ancestors' tea. When looked up-closed, you could see the paper fibre texture from the Japanese paper.
$500.00
Cyanotype on Kozo (Japanese paper) - Framed.
11x14"
Limited edition 2 of 2.
Titled "Vessel of Offerings”. This series is a cyanotype print depicting teacup sets that convey a photographic dialogue of tea offering rituals. Metaphorically, it has connotations of holding conversations or blessings. Tea ceremonies are customary practice in Eastern Asia where it represents respect, blessing, bonding and peace. A tradition within my Vietnamese household where sacred spaces that hold shrines and/or altars to serve our ancestors' tea.