Chando Ao was born in Fengdu, China, a city that was submerged when the Three Gorges Dam was constructed when he was 13. He later moved to Chongqing, China, Sydney, Australia, Boston, and New York. This immigrant experience greatly influenced his perception of the world and his art practice: When language becomes a barrier, seek alternative ways to express; when must leave your hometown, carry it with you always.

Ao's practice navigates between two extremes: his solo endeavors in paintings and a complex, open system, often involving extensive collaborations with the external world through robots, software, unique materials, and everyday goods. This system is designed to engage visitors—inviting them to touch, embrace, climb, and even juggle with the work. These two modes of creation mirror his dual states as an individual: introspectively sensing himself and outwardly conveying a concise, fundamental sensory experience without the aid of language or text.