Technique and medium: Acrylic on canvas
What is your fasination with abstract painting?
An abstract artist can create imagery that doesn’t already exist in the real world. Not a story or narrative, but a new image, created inside the artist’s mind. There are many forms of art that re-create images we already see. I think abstract painting has more freedom in terms of the ability to imagine imagery. For example, if we compare music without words, and music with words, the sound without a narrative gives the listener more freedom to form his or her own associations. Abstract art is perceived as being difficult to understand but I think we shouldn’t put so much emphasis on understanding. Some things in this world are better to not understand. It’s a good thing to pretend to be stupid sometimes.
What is the main point of concern in your work?
To be true to myself. I make work that makes me feel good or happy—not in order to please others. I try not to think about any rules or theory when painting, but people will still judge it in those terms.
What is the inspiration for this current exhibition, After Afterall?
The changing of the world’s climate. For me, everything is changing, all the time. Whether it’s good or bad, I feel like I can accept the outcome. This doesn’t mean that I like people who destroy the planet, but I try to do my best not to make it worse.
What is your exhibition’s message?
It’s not intended to tell anyone anything. People can come to see the kinds of images I’ve imagined, and are invited to feel however they will. Hopefully, they feel inspired to take care of the earth, and use less resources, because we use too much, too fast.
What are the differences between this exhibition and your previous exhibitions?
This theme is similar to my last exhibition, No Valid Matter. But, this one is more focused on nature. They are both about letting things go, and about accepting change. However, After Afterall is more specifically about the issue of the earth. Technically, this new work has more layers, more detail. In both I use a technique of applying paint without touching the surface of the canvas with a brush or any other tools. In this way, I, as the artist, am less likely to interfere with the relationship between the surface and the paint. These elements can work together to evolve, as in nature. This way of working can be compared to the notion of acceptance of change or evolution.
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