Wisdom in Art, Culture, and Life
From July 11 to 13, 2025, the International Arts Gallery in Vancouver, Canada, invites you to a special exhibition featuring the artwork of the late Chinese literati painter Professor Johnson Chow Su-Sing (1923–2021). The 61 pieces on view, generously donated by long-standing dharma practitioners Amelia Chow and Jacqueline (Jackie) Chow (Professor Chow’s daughter and daughter-in-law, respectively), represent the essence of traditional Chinese art through landscape, bird-and-flower painting, and calligraphy, and also include more free-style works. The event is co-organized with Siddhartha’s Intent Canada and all proceeds from sales will benefit Khyentse Foundation.
“Having encountered Mr. Chow many times over the years, I saw how he lived his life—his posture, his art of caring for family, and his way of simply being a good human being. In my opinion, it’s all reflected and embodied in many of his paintings. For someone like me, it is a nexus to the vast and deep Chinese psyche, culture, tradition, and wisdom.” — Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Born in the city of Suzhou in China’s Jiangsu Province, Professor Chow began to paint at the age of 8 and would go on to become a key figure in the heritage of Wu School Chinese painting. He graduated from Suzhou Fine Arts College in 1944 and left home in 1949, eventually settling in Hong Kong, where he met a number of acclaimed masters and was able to further his learning. Under the influence of the highly versatile artist Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), Chow began to paint landscapes in splashed ink and free style. Combining the traditional methods of Chinese painting and the spirit of Chinese culture, he developed a form of self-expression with graceful and forceful brushwork, forging a new style of ink painting while continuing to pursue tradition.
In 1971, Professor Chow moved to the United States, relocating to Canada in 1980. Traveling widely, he drew inspiration from nature and the customs of different regions in his work. A prolific writer, he also lectured at various colleges and universities and held numerous exhibitions. He founded the Chinese Canadian Artists Federation in 1993 and the Wu School Art Association in 2012.
Amelia Chow recalls her father’s first meeting with Rinpoche: “In the early 1990s, when my family relocated to Vancouver, my parents anticipated that I would become my father’s art agent and manage a gallery. Instead, I ended up running up and down the Sea to Sky Highway, helping to build Sea to Sky Retreat Centre [a retreat center under the direct guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche]. During one of Rinpoche’s visits to Vancouver, he went to see my father with an entourage of students. During the visit, Rinpoche requested a lesson from my father on painting bamboo. Father was totally delighted, and the lesson went on for a couple of sessions. From that point forward, working for Rinpoche full time ceased to be an issue. My parents were captivated by his presence, and my mother extended several invitations to Rinpoche for home dinners.”
Jackie Chow shares her memories of Professor Chow: “From living with my in-laws since their move to Vancouver in 1980, I came to learn of my father-in-law’s kindness and humility typical of a Chinese scholar. Because of his refined manner and accomplishments in art, he gained high respect among his peers and in the community in general. In particular, his compassionate and generous nature left a deep impression on me. Over his lifetime, he donated numerous artworks to charitable causes and benefited many organizations both local and abroad, such as British Columbia Children’s Hospital, the Canadian Cancer Society, St. Paul’s Hospital, and the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake Rescue Fundraising Drive, to name just a few. In fact, Lotus Outreach Society Canada [a charitable organization founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche] has also been a beneficiary of his generosity.”
Amelia Chow shares her father’s approach to painting: “As a child, I asked my father why he made ink by grinding an ink stick on a stone instead of using bottled ink for calligraphy. He replied: ‘Preparing oneself to achieve the proper mindset is integral. Engaging in tasks such as pouring water and grinding the ink stick for 10 to 15 minutes allows an individual to reduce their heart rate, regulate their breathing, and mentally prepare for the task at hand. This process facilitates a transition into the “space.”’ I later understood that it is comparable to the tea ceremony. When I became a Buddhist, I found it similar to lighting incense, to pouring water into the offering bowls, as part of the ritual to get into the ‘space.’ It is my wish that when people come to look at my father’s paintings, they can experience beyond the color, the images, the brushstrokes, and be connected with that space, the essence that embodies the living expression of Chinese culture: Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism.”
Additional information on the Vancouver event and a catalogue of the paintings can be found here. For inquiries or to purchase the paintings, contact KF Canada representatives Cathy Wen or Lily Wang.
Featured image above: Lotus, dragonfly, by Johnson Chow Su-Sing (1923–2021). Ink and color on paper, 45 x 44.5 cm.
All photos courtesy Amelia and Jackie Chow.