Although this exhibition will be Tsoi’s first solo exhibition at Tally Beck Contemporary, Father of Blindfold Art Medicine will be his sixteenth solo exhibition in New York City. The show will feature approximately 16 acrylic and mixed media works on canvas. Tsoi’s work explores the use of art as holistic medicine to restore balance of body, mind, and spirit in the viewer. His work fuses Chinese medicine practices and Taoist philosophy to restore the balance of yin and yang through “Universal Life Energy.” Tsoi’s inquisitive nature prompted him to make the connection between meditation, spirituality, and healing with closed eyes. Because of this connection, Tsoi began making works while blindfolded and creates his pieces without the use of sight. He describes the creation of art as an internal journey that results in mystery. During his blindfolded performances, Tsoi relies on guidance from the energy of the universe to create channels for movement through cuts made in the canvas with a knife. This energy force also guides the color palettes to restore yin and yang through balance of a mental, physical, or spiritual condition.
Jon Tsoi currently lives in Connecticut and has exhibited work there as well as in New York City, New Jersey, and Florida. Tsoi is originally from China and studied in Sichuan. After moving to the United States in 1979, he attended classes at Montclair State University, and the Art Students’ League of New York in the early 1980s. As a certified acupuncturist, Tsoi consciously makes connections between art making and viewing with Chinese medicine practices and Taoist Philosophy.
Father of Blindfold Art Medicine will open at Tally Beck Contemporary, 42 Rivington Street, New York, on Wednesday, June 11, 2014, with an opening reception from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. featuring a special performance by the artist and cocktails by Mizu Shochu 美鶴乃舞 and Tiger Beer. The reception will begin at 6 p.m., and the performance will begin at 7:30 pm. In conjunction with the exhibition, Tally Beck Contemporary will also present a series of lectures and other educational programming. All special events will feature cocktails by Mizu Shochu 美鶴乃舞 and Tiger Beer. Please check our website to stay updated with our event schedule.
