ARTIST’S STATEMENT

I think it is essential for human beings to realize the importance of their daily life.

My artwork mostly focuses on the subjects that are essential and important to me. They are coming deeply from my memory, either from my conscious mind or subconscious mind. 

Firstly, the conscious, subjects that I am aware of that are closely related or have a strong effect on me internally and externally. For example, my artwork integrates cups of coffee, bubble tea, fruits (apples, grapes, strawberries), and pets. These subjects come from my daily activities that I get used to and no longer pay much attention to, yet nonetheless have helped to build me into who I am. Generally, I endeavor in my pieces to create harmonic, romantic, joyful, and intimate feelings, and to consciously create a sense of “ settledness” – the quality or condition of being settled. For example, I feel the things of which I am mindful always give me the sense of resting in a safe place, a comfort zone. Life here is lived under sunshine and warmth. 

Secondly, my work tries to seek the subconscious part of my mind, subjects which exist but of which I am not fully aware, yet impact my actions and feelings. These can be activities or emotions that are deeply hidden inside me, which sometimes create stress or anxiety for me along some pathway. For example, I am looking for a long-term romantic relationship without any distractions, and see this as the ideal, an alternative most beautiful state. This degree of romance is not achievable for me in the real world because of all the factors, complexities, and events that happen in daily life. However, I wish that uninterrupted blissful love can transcend the real world, and hope it is achievable. Therefore, I create a young couple in the cave, dating romantically in nature without disruption, just two in the wild world, as if in a dream, fully imaginative love. The piece also creates a sense of “unsettledness”, likely an ephemeral vision, not fixed, confronting and challenging reality with its utopian depiction. 

Some of my artwork can explore both the conscious and the subconscious, and the boundary between them. For example, one work portrays a swan swimming in a trashed lake. Consciously I know I must preserve nature in so many ways, and on the other hand, I may be destroying nature subconsciously. I admire and treasure the swan, but can be unaware of destructive behaviors and consequences such as consumption and generation of associated plastic waste. Art can help to highlight both harmony and disharmony, and create new awareness.

Through works that explore both the conscious and the subconscious mind, I develop my identity, discover what is important in daily life, and bring to light the spirit of life Art has helped me explore myself, define my pathway and my future life in teaching, I wish to help others discover and develop their identity, and come to know what is truly vital to them. 

“The love of the heart creates wonderful artworks” (By Yuxin Qian (Jenny).