My mother gave me various objects during Chinese celebrations such as the Lunar New Year or my birthday under the lunar calendar. At first I interpreted the objects as having profound meanings in Chinese mythology, and that these plastic, sprayed “gold” forms were given to me by my mother as a way to instill Chinese tradition. But the intention of these objects were merely kitsch, and my mother intended them to be whimsical gifts. Their interpreted meanings became the focus of my work, and I seek to find the narrative associated with these objects. My lithographs explore the romanticized notions that I have formed around these objects, as a Chinese-Canadian, and how these objects in their altered states also have a basis in Chinese folklore.
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The small gifts that my Mother continues to give me are her way of instilling traditional Chinese values and beliefs. Having immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong at the age of five, her gifts are symbolic of the life that we left behind. They are both familiar and foreign. This series of prints attempts to reconcile my Canadian upbringing with the traditions and values of my Chinese background—as perceived by my mother’s ready-made gifts.
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For over 10 years my abstract works on paper have indirectly referenced the environment and images of nature. My monotypes are based on a collection of images from actual places either stored in my memory bank or from personal photographs and sketches. They capture a world in constant change. Through the intuitive process of monotype printmaking, each image is created on a plastic printing plate, using water-based inks and crayons. The images are then transferred onto paper through an etching press, resulting in a unique print. This process which I have developed through the years, bridges my painting and printmaking background.
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This selection of images are of various works and projects created from 2003. Works included are: "Sunset at Annapolis Royal, N.S." (2008), "Altogether in its Parts" suite, "Fragments from My Past" suite, and more.
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Square Foot is an annual project established by the AWOL Gallery in 2003. All works in this group exhibition measure 12" x 12", and are hung in an expansive grid. These are some of the works I created through my participation in past years.
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