Touch (觸碰)

Acrylic on Canvas. 36" x 24". March 2004.

'Touch' is my very first painting on a 1.5" thick wood frame canvas. I have been painting on 3/4" frames for all my previous work. For some reason, painting on the 3/4" frame seemed very 'un-pro'. You can say that this is my very first piece I would consider 'gallery quality'. Needless to say, when I started working on this piece, I had a lot of pressure to make it 'perfect'...which caused me great headache!!

Shadowed in the Middle (困中)

Acrylic on Canvas. 24" x 24". October 2003.

This painting is one of my first painting that really studies the color of yellow and burnt umber in acrylic format. I have also incorporated a lot of texture into the painting by mixing acrylic paint with a type of sand-like pigment called 'Pumice Stone', to give the painting a very 3D effect.

Interaction and Reaction

"...And the moment the story enters, the boredom comes upon you" - Francis Bacon in an interview with David Sylvester

I will not tell you why I painted what I paint, for the fear that once I tell you, the painting becomes boring, and eventually dead. So, I will let you come up with your own findings (please post your thoughts on the comments) and your own reactions. I find it very true that once a painting is complete, it takes a life of its own. Once my last stroke on the canvas is lifted, my interaction with the painting comes to an end. So now it is you, the viewer, begin your interaction with the painting. What do you see? What do you feel?

My Vision and Direction....

For the longest time, I have been trying to find subjects to paint about. 'Quartet Seasons' was just a jump start for me to begin painting subjects that are more non-Anime related (I have illustrated for a Japanese Manga Magazine years ago). I needed a direction and something that is real to me.

I've noticed that there aren't many Chinese contemporary painters (mostly sculpters). And those that are, usually have the subject matter relating to living within the political system of China. Since I don't have first hand experience on the subject, I can't really paint about that. I can only paint about things I have experienced personally...as a Hong Kong-born Chinese living in the Western World...as well as living in the times when traditional Chinese culture has to deal with the assimilation into the Global culture.

Will my Chinese tradition fade into a distant memory?

What do I see in my own culture that I want to discard or hold onto?

Has the sadness of the Chinese culture (悲) worked into my life?

These are just some of the questions I want to explore in my paintings. So, come and dive into my world...

Quartet Seasons

I am a artist. I am a musician. So naturally, I painted something that deals with music. Since the working of an instrument is by the usage of the hands, thus I painted these paintings with my hands.



Acrylic on Canvas. 24"x24" (each individual size). Sept - Nov 2003.

He that can play well on an instrument,
Will take the ear, and captivate the mind
With mirth or sadness; for that it is bent
Thereto, as music in it place doth find.
But if one hears that hath therein no skill,
(As often music lights of such a chance)
Of its brave notes they soon be weary will:
And there are some can neither sing nor dance.

"Upon The Skilfull Player Of An Instrument" (partial) by John Bunyan