I had painted this last month without knowing that the beloved city that means so many things to so many people, were to meet with attacks (for want of a better word, as I refuse to sensationalise as the perpetuators wish) this tragic Friday 13 Nov 2015.
The piece is a tribute to travels and Paris, inspired by a little yellow boat called "Paris" that I have come to watch out for every morning, at the PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) terminal when my bus to work emerges from a long dark tunnel every morning.
I have been to Paris twice, once on a europe students tour which whipped in the highlights - Eiffel, Notre Dame, Louvre - in a whirlwind, where I just remembered that I must come back to Monmarte again with the romance and idealism that it holds for struggling artists. The second was a much longer backpacking trip traversing all over France, which was one hack of a colourful trip with many funny episodes, good and bad, but definitely memorable. I may have encountered a few prickly French as I don't spout any and had a communication issue, but it is hard not to love the country for its beautiful cities, quaint towns, scenic landscapes that look like they come out of an art book, its absolutely rich and fascinating cultural and freedom of artistic expressions that produces so many great artists, and the sheer encouragement of it that is in the psyche of the French which is to be admired and emulated. And Paris with its Eiffel symbol, is an epitome of freedom, and an artist's dream. The current episode will not dent this spirit that has stood the test of time. May the Parisians move on with strength and resilience and continue with their celebrated way of life that should be the way it is, with the ideals to inspire the rest of the world.
Title: Untitled 6 (A47)
Description: Red pink whimsical vintage Paris painting of little child in colorful surreal swirl of Eiffel Tower, carousel, yellow boat and green toy bike. 2015.
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
At least, this is what this Untitled series is turning out to be ;p It's a new direction in my art, and I am excited about it.
Instead of images from my travels which I have been doing for years, I began to paint pictures from my heart, a suggestion from a friend.
So I started to imagine scenes from whatever comes to mind.. nuggets, unknown places, memories, feelings, symbols, dreams.. and culled for materials to thread it altogether.
Somehow, the theme of being a child again just seems to linger. But I do not know what to call the pieces as they seem to invoke different things to different people, and even to me. So for the first time in my painting journey, I am leaving them Untitled.
Title: Untitled 1 (A42)
Description: Whimsical expressionist painting of little girl chancing upon a dog in a nameless city with rose symbol and streakng light in a dreamy surreal nightscape. 2015.
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Title: Untitled 2 (A43)
Description: Whimsical painting of a little girl and a cat reaching out for a fly away hot air balloon with a birdcage in tow, trailed by roses, angels and vintage symbols. 2015.
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Title: Untitled 3 (A44)
Description: Impressionist painting of train station in surreal bright orange lights whilst a little girl in pink and her teddy bear stand awaiting. 2015.
Medium: Acrylic on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
Going back to Japan theme, these 2 paintings are inspired by lovely hikes on the Nakasendo Way, one on a path literally blooming, and puffing, with pink cherry blossoms, the other a serene walk through a beautiful green forest.
While the places are real, and I can still remember the smell of the crisp spring air and the soft sun rays filtering through the trees, my rendition is more emotion, at once pleasurable yet also full of anticipation of what lay beyond, memories from a year ago intertwining with surreal dreams of a fond place from a year ago.
Title: Blossoms Way 樱花道 (O130)
Description: Dreamy expressionist painting of pink cherry blossoms flower trees inspired by a spring village hike on Japan's Nakasendo Way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 2015.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 61cm.
Title: Forest Path 林子里 (O127)
Description: Serene green forest path painting of a beautiful nature hike through the mountains on Japan's Nakasendo Way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 2015.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 61 x 46cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
On a cab ride in Jeju, a friendly uncle driver enthusiastically told me that the island is known for 3 things: rocks, wind.. and after struggling with the korean-to-english translation app on his iphone.. women.
He meant the famous haenyo - sea women divers who fight against the wild waves for a catch. In the old days, many men in Jeju were lost at sea. They also had to pay heavy taxes, so the diving trade eventually passed over to the women who became the main breadwinner. A declining trade today, with tourism contributing to most job opportunities, the haenyo declined in numbers. With an average age of 65, the iconic ladies continued to dive into depths of 20-30 metres with no oxygen tank, whether for a catch, often singing a poignant song. or sadly, to the throes of tourists and flashing cameras fighting to picture the amazing feat and the prize catch of an octopus or squid.
At a particularly touristy spot, I watched but could not bear to join the mob. Amidst the madness, a solemn expression of a haenyo catches, with faraway eyes that tell of a life past that I could not possibly imagine. I knew I would paint her, paint her story, paint the beautiful bright red shoe that she wore into the waters, paint the enigmatic person behind the matriarchal symbol that may one day pass into Jeju's colourful history..
Title: Haenyo 海女 (O95)
Description: A poignant depiction of the colourful Haenyo, sea women divers iconic in Jeju, Korea, who fight the wild waves for a catch in place of the men, who are today declining in numbers and a dying trade. Jeju Notes 2014.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 76cm.
Purchase at: yen.artfire.com
The subversive mood just got a little darker. For reasons unknown, I am attracted to this street in Cordoba, an otherwise boisterous city in southern Spain teeming with tourists at the famous Mezquita area. I love the place, but it gets a little heavy at times, and this quiet lane beckons with the odd fountain of an animal atop, a mythical beast I think.
Again I am painting over a previous canvas that didn't work well. Strangely, I love the green glow it provides which I leave simmering through the whites giving a rich undulating texture to the piece. It's probably an acquired taste to like this one but it's a personal favourite.
Title: A Backstreet in Cordoba (O78)
Description: A moody surrealistic piece inspired by a quiet lane with an odd fountain in Cordoba, an otherwise boisterous city in southern Spain. Spain Vignettes 2012.
Medium: Oil on Ready-to-Hang Canvas.
Dimensions: 76 x 61cm.
SOLD.
