Haocun Cao
Haocun(Sandra) Cao is originally from Shanghai, China. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and worked in HR for seven years until November 2017, when her life took an unexpected turn. She found solace in painting after the sudden passing of her mother, using it as a powerful form of therapy and self-expression. In 2022, she began the Fine Arts Studio program at Centennial College, graduating with honors in 2024. Now pursuing a degree in Drawing and Painting at OCAD University, her work reflects a woman’s perspective and emotional response to life themes such as change and loss, exploring cultural integration and relationships.
In 2023, Sandra worked as an art instructor for summer camps organized by the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada and an after-school program at an elementary school. Previously, she worked for the Provincial Government in New Brunswick and multinational companies in Shanghai, China such as Christian Dior, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals and Qiming Venture Partners, etc.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Creating art became a therapeutic outlet for me during the pandemic, gradually transforming into a profound passion. My works draw inspiration from personal experiences, including significant relationship changes and travels. I explore themes of change and relationships, focusing on the emotional responses from a woman’s perspective. Through my art, I reflect on these multifaceted changes, expressing my emotions and inviting viewers to connect with their own journeys.
Haocun(Sandra) Cao is originally from Shanghai, China. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and worked in HR for seven years until November 2017, when her life took an unexpected turn. She found solace in painting after the sudden passing of her mother, using it as a powerful form of therapy and self-expression. In 2022, she began the Fine Arts Studio program at Centennial College, graduating with honors in 2024. Now pursuing a degree in Drawing and Painting at OCAD University, her work reflects a woman’s perspective and emotional response to life themes such as change and loss, exploring cultural integration and relationships.
In 2023, Sandra worked as an art instructor for summer camps organized by the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada and an after-school program at an elementary school. Previously, she worked for the Provincial Government in New Brunswick and multinational companies in Shanghai, China such as Christian Dior, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals and Qiming Venture Partners, etc.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Creating art became a therapeutic outlet for me during the pandemic, gradually transforming into a profound passion. My works draw inspiration from personal experiences, including significant relationship changes and travels. I explore themes of change and relationships, focusing on the emotional responses from a woman’s perspective. Through my art, I reflect on these multifaceted changes, expressing my emotions and inviting viewers to connect with their own journeys.
$880.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x36"
There are blank periods in our lives, i.e. times when we’ve ended a relationship but haven’t found a new one yet; or left a job we dislike without having a new one lined up. We have to go through these in-between phases, and instead of fearing them, we can use them to reflect, focus on ourselves and make improvement. These are the moments when we have nothing to cling to. We might feel unsettling in these periods, however it’s in these periods that we can grow the most. It’s like rock climbing. Sometimes you have to take a leap to reach higher and achieve your goal.
In this painting, I depicted a female rock climber, whom I can relate to deeply. She’s climbing alone, symbolizing the times in life when we have to face challenges by ourselves. The surrounding landscape is mesmerizing, representing how life, despite its difficulties, can still be incredibly beautiful. I was trying to express through this piece that no matter what happen to your life, embrace the challenges and hardships, meanwhile don’t forget to appreciate the beauty around us.
$680.00
Acrylic on canvas.
20x16"
In the last moments of his life, my father was alone in the room of a nursing home, his only pastime being newspaper reading. However, his only entertainment was out of reach during the pandemic. I can imagine how many times he stood trembling at the window thinking of his only daughter, who was thousands of miles away. He had never asked for anything. He only longed to see his daughter silently in his heart.
$880.00
Acrylic on canvas.
20x36"
"Left Behind" is both a tribute and a reflection—a deeply personal memory of my late father, a man of remarkable achievements in his younger years who faced a lonely and isolated old age. In this painting, I portray myself seated on the bank, watching the iconic skyline of Shanghai, my hometown, with my father walking away in the distance, aided by a walker.
My father’s life, once defined by distinction and respect, ended in solitude and vulnerability. He gave me unconditional love and trust throughout his life, always supporting my decisions. Yet, I couldn’t be there for him when he needed me most. The guilt and regret I feel for choosing a new life abroad over being by his side form the emotional core of this work.
This painting also represents the sacrifices of immigration, the comfortable life and professional identity I left behind in Shanghai, and the unspoken goodbyes to my parents. It is a visual portrayal of my emotions, intertwining love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that tie me to my roots.
$480.00
Acrylic and pen on canvas.
14x20"
The boy, who stands outside the frame, turned 18 in 2023. He’s looking at the scene of himself playing with his friend in their childhood. That scene is spotlighted by the red lantern, which symbolizes the Chinese New Year. Here I juxtapose the 18-year-old boy with his younger self to demonstrate the elapse of time. As a mother, I feel sentimental about the passing of time without realizing it until I put the adult son into this painting with his childhood self. We don’t feel the passing of time until we see the growth of our children. At the right corner of the painting, I put a poem- "Despite being away half of your lifetime, wish you still have a young heart when you return." by a well-known poet of the Song Dynasty， Su Shi, as an expression of a mother's wish, hoping he will stay young at heart when he reaches middle age.
$580.00
Acrylic on canvas.
18x24"
The village of Oia, perched on the picturesque cliffs of Santorini, Greece, has long been well-known for its mesmerizing sunsets. While people were captured by the stunning yet fleeting moment of sunset, I was fascinated by the couple who were watching the sunset..
$580.00
Acrylic on canvas.
16x20"
In a small Italian town, I was doing pottery in a classroom when someone opened the windows beside me. Suddenly, I saw a beautiful scenery in front of me, taking all the weariness away. Life is also like this, when we're sinking in a dreary world, we don't know that God is going to open a window for us and show us the beauty of life. Always appreciate the beauty around us, even if it's minuscule.
$500.00
Oil on canvas.
20x16"
l looked back as l walked along the beach, just as I'd been looking back all these years and feeling lost about what I had left behind in my home country. l was living in the past. I painted this to remind myself not to dwell in the past, not to fear the future，but to live in the present.
$500.00
Acrylic on canvas.
16x20"
For women, it is of utmost importance to accept and love ourselves. In our Chinese culture, women are very conscious about their appearance and sometimes care too much so that they can't find their true selves. I painted my true self, no makeup, no cover-ups. This is a completely different version of myself than the ones others see. What I wanted to express here is that we all need to accept and love ourselves starting from now, don't wait until we achieve other's perfection. Accept the imperfect selves. Please ourselves, not others.
$480.00
Acrylic on canvas.
16x20"
I was deeply touched by the lyrics of this song called ‘There are so many people in the world’, which inspired me to create this art work to capture the emotion and wonder it evoked in me. Considering the world’s population of 7.888 billion people, it’s astonishing to reflect on the chances of meeing anyone in my life.
$280.00
Acrylic on canvas.
14x11"
The man in the rear mirror symbolizes the romantic relationship in the past. The view from the front symbolizes now and the future. We can look at the rear mirror every once in a while for reference when we are driving, but we have to stay focused on what is in front of us, not behind us. Life is like driving, we can’t dwell on the past, no matter how beautiful it was. Like Oscar Wilde said, “What past is past”. The hand with a ring on the middle finger putting on the steering wheel symbolizes the woman who has freedom and control of her life. To the women who still live in the past: You have choice and power, and you can control your direction, no matter how much you are obsessed with the past, please move on, there’s a brighter future waiting for you.