KANG Ping Hoo
江平和 Also known as JIANG Pinghe
Born: 16 August 1941 – Died: 7 May 1942
Particulars:
Ping Hoo was born in Amboeloe, Djember in eastern Java, in the Dutch East Indies, now Indonesia. When the Pacific War broke out, he was taken to Australia with his father Liong Tjwan, born in Takau, now Kaohsiung in Taiwan, mother Ong Lie Nio, born in Pamekasan in East Java, and older brother Kwie Tijoe. The family was interned at Tatura Internment Camp in Victoria. Three months later, he was admitted to Mooroopna Hospital, but died two days after admission. He was just short of 9 months old. The cause of his death is not recorded in files held at the National Archives of Australia. His grave is in the Japanese Cemetery in Cowra, New South Wales, Australia.
–Mayu Kanamori
More info:
Trinity Kuichun Cheng Lai (鄭圭君)
Artist/s Statement:
‘Inti y El Condor’ reflects on the profound loss of the young life of Kang Ping Hoo, symbolised by ‘Inti’, the sun god in Inca culture. Inti represents parents who offer warmth, protection, and unconditional love for their children, much like the sun gives life. In his arms, he holds a golden condor – a sacred figure in Inca culture – symbolising freedom and purity. Like a child, the condor is an irreplaceable treasure to parents, whose life, like Kang Ping Hoo’s, was cut short before it could take flight.
From the condor’s womb flows a black liquid, its ambiguity prompting reflection. Is it blood, contamination, or the essence of the darkness that robs what should be protected? This liquid symbolises the dark forces and uncertainties that plague the world. The sculpture invites the viewer to contemplate the fragility of life, and the struggle to preserve light amidst darkness.
Artist Bio:
Trinity Kuichun Cheng Lai (鄭圭君) is an artist whose work explores identity, culture, and emotion through sculpture and painting. Born in Ecuador to a Taiwanese migrant family, she grew up navigating the complexities of belonging to two distinct cultures. This experience shapes her creative process, where themes of identity and cultural intersection take centre stage. Drawing inspiration from nature, childhood memories, and everyday photography, her art reflects the fluidity of cultural exchange. Her practice combines discipline with spontaneity, aiming to connect diverse cultural narratives and provoke introspection through visual storytelling.