Statement & Bio
I am a California, Singapore and UK trained, multidisciplinary artist, whose current focus is on painting, photography and digital art.
I want my art to be natural and effortless like breathing, exciting and engaging like music, and spontaneous and fluid like dancing. That's why my artworks are mostly spontaneously created with interesting textures and tonal contrasts. My painting style can be described as "naturalist cum impressionistic, with swift carefree fluidity and bold emotive brush strokes".
I believe, in Art, there are no limits: boundaries are often what we have created to constrain ourselves. To me, creating art is liberating and exhilarating as it awakens all my senses, excites me and lets my imagination and creativity run free. As a shy person who used to suffer from childhood selective mutism as well as bullying, art is a language that I use to respond to the moments, memories and subjects around me. In addition, art is a type of meditation as it can increase awareness, promote inner healing* and deep reflection.
In these uncertain times, I seek to create evocative and engaging artworks that bring clarity to mind and/or joy to the heart. Therefore, many of my artworks are meant to evoke a mood which directly engages one’s emotionality. My goal for my art is to have a life of their own: evolving whilst interacting and connecting with diverse audiences of different generations to come.
Impressionism, Expressionism and Abstract Art have inspired me, and my other inspirations come from Mother Nature, travel, music, popular culture, science, architecture and history. I hope to capture the myriad flavours of life in my artworks via employing the various skills and techniques that I have learned and/or developed. In addition, I am keen on learning and experimenting with different art forms because I want to produce intriguing and engaging artworks which blend fascinating features of Western and Eastern art. Lastly, I am also interested in modernising certain traditional art forms like Ink wash painting to help it keep up with the times while retaining and celebrating its unique characteristics.
* I believe in the healing power of art. When I was 9 years old in Elementary school, some of my classmates were devastated by the news that kids who failed badly in their examinations would be required to change to a nearby school that would cater to their learning abilities. Some were in tears while others looked stressed. They were either fearful of their parents' reactions or the uncertainty of a new school environment. I felt sorry for them and immediately thought of a plan to comfort them. I drew pictures of my pug dog named Lucky and offered them to anyone who wanted it, telling them that the pictures may bring them luck. Instantly, the crying stopped and they became calmer. Many years have since passed, but this incident is still vividly etched in my mind.
CV
Education
Contemporary Art Summer School: Royal College of Art, UK
Drawing & Painting: Stanford University, USA
Chinese Ink Painting:
- Nanyang Technological University of Singapore
- Confucius Institute NTU Singapore
Activities
2022
Participation in Art Parma Fair
2021
Photography work, Found, featured in Gallery of Participants Works at https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/short-courses-2/case-study-contemporary-art-summer-school-26-july-13-august-2021/
2018 - 2021
My sketches appeared in Lianhe Zaobao newspaper, the Chinese daily in Singapore.
2020
My acrylic painting of water lilies was showcased in a Singapore Online Group Art exhibition titled A Date With Dawn.
2019
Three of my artworks were published in an art book titled: "In a Splendid Art City - Celebrating Singapore's Historic Bicentennial".
Featured as one of the artists in the River Hongbao 2019 ‘Hui Chun’ Marathon to celebrate Singapore 200 years of history.
2018
Facilitated an art workshop organized by the Singapore Press Holdings for selected Straits Times subscribers.
Group charity exhibition titled "Fall In Love With Art" organized by The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STSPMF).
2017
Group exhibition at the National Library of Singapore.
Group painting demo in the River Hongbao 2017 Celebrations held at Marina Bay, Singapore.