An Ho is a Chinese brush work artist who now lives in Chattanooga, and is believed to be the only living painter who works in both the styles of Tang and Sang dynasty. She sits in front of a painting titled “A Scholar’s Gathering,” which was completed in the 1950’s.AN HOAge: 83.Born: Beijing, China.Family: Daughter Lalani Nan, son-in-law Henry Lautz.Residence: Ferger Place, Eveningside.Hobbies: Reading poetry, literature and short stories.
EDITOR’S NOTE: An Ho’s daughter, Lalani Nan, acted as translator for this interview.
An Ho has lived in the United States since 1974, but she speaks only a few words of English. Her language is art.
Born in Beijing in 1929, An Ho — “everybody calls her An Ho,” said her daughter, Lalani Nan, who acts as her full-time translator — is a rare artist who can execute delicate Chinese brushwork paintings in the styles of both the Tang and Sung dynasties, 1,000-year-old traditions.
She studied under the close tutelage of Pu Ru, a painter and calligrapher who was a cousin to the emperor and who was considered one of the last true Chinese scholar-artists.