Choice

 Choice, 76 x 91cm, oil on canvas, 2012

“Choice” is my second piece based on Plato epigram.

"I throw the apple at you, and if you are willing to love me, take it and share your girlhood with me; but if your thoughts are what I pray they are not, even then take it, and consider how short-lived is beauty" - Plato (Epigram VII)
 

The two women, one receiving/holding the apple, the other laughingly throwing/watching an apple falling, show the choice we constantly make in our life. Either you are “throwing” or “receiving”, the choice is yours to make. We are free to choose our own destiny!

Illusion of Beauty

Illusion of Beauty, 76x91cm, oil on canvas, 2012

I started my new figure series with the piece entitled “Illusion of Beauty”, and “Sends in the Clowns”, gradually the ideas keep developed and evolved, then come the piece “Blessed” and “Choice”, next is the “The New Girl” and “Red”

.

For “Illusion of Beauty”, the painting depict 2 women, one in the background is a traditional Chinese woman in ancient China society who foot were bonded, in those days, women who bond their feet (also known as lotus foot) will only consider as a beauty, accepted by society as a worthy “lady” for marriage. The tiny narrow feet of the "ladies" were considered beautiful and to make a woman's movements more feminine and dainty. Men were crazy over the tiny but deformed foot which emphasized on their hips, make the women swaying when walking, they considered that as sexy! In the front is a modern woman holding up a stiletto/high heel, the woman is painted as a clown/as a sarcasm icon to mock women in this modern era wearing stiletto/extremely high heels in the name of beauty and sexy. In actual fact the structure of stiletto, from the tips of the heel to the base of the front part is about the same length achieve by a binding feet, which make a woman’s hip sway too when walking. Although wearing a stiletto is not as destructive as binding one foot, but if wearing for a long period of time, it will caused health problem too, causing back pain and deformed the feet in long run.

Blessed

"Blessed", oil on canvas, 76 x61cm, 2012

Apple often appear as a symbolism for mystical or forbidden fruit, a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man and sin in some religious traditions. In Greek mythology, apple is a symbol of love.

"I throw the apple at you, and if you are willing to love me, take it and share your girlhood with me; but if your thoughts are what I pray they are not, even then take it, and consider how short-lived is beauty" - Plato (Epigram VII)

We are blessed with the ability to feel pain, to love and be loved, to learn, to gain knowledge. We feel alive because we have the feelings, the emotions.........if not, we are not human.....we are just living dead! We are blessed! So whatever feelings or emotions we faced, embraced them, that is life!

Send in the Clowns

 "Send in the Clowns", oil on canvas, 91.5x122cm, 2012

My friend told me that the lyrics of the song "Send in the Clowns" approximate the tenor of my painting in a general sense, I agreed, so I titled it as such.

"Send in the Clowns"
Lyrics:  Stephen Sondheim
Sang by: Judy Collins/Liza Minnelli/Judi Dench


Isn't it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air.
Send in the clowns.

Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can't move.
Where are the clowns?
Send in the clowns.

Just when I'd stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours,
Making my entrance again with my usual flair,
Sure of my lines,
No one is there.

Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear.
I thought that you'd want what I want.
Sorry, my dear.
But where are the clowns?
Quick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.

Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer,
Losing my timing this late
In my career?
And where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns.
Well, maybe next year.

My Gallery III

Optical Illusion I, oil on canvas, 46x46 cm, 2011, Sold


In Dilemma, oil on canvas, 76x61 cm, 2011


Reflection of Mind, mixed media, 76x91 cm, 2011


Red Stiletto, oil on canvas, 61x46 cm, 2011


Over the Years, oil on canvas, 41x122 cm, 2011, Sold


See No Evil, oil on canvas, 76x91 cm, 2011, Sold












Admiration, oil on canvas, 61x61 cm, 2011, Sold












Illusion, mixed media, 76x61 cm, 2011

Pure Love

Pure Love, oil on canvas, 76 x 61cm, 2011

One of my new paintings in 2011 entitled "Pure Love", exhibited in the "Art Exhibition on Motherhood: Celebrating and Supporting Women as Mothers, Workers and Nurturers!", WABA's 20th Anniversary & Fundraising at Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, officially declared open on 22nd May 2011.

Friendship

My 2nd solo exhibition in KL finally over. One of the most treasure moments in this exhibition was a reunion with my four best friends. Since we graduated from college 20 years ago, this was the first time 5 of us are together again. Three of us are staying in Penang and we try to meet each other as often as we can, but the other two are staying in Johor and Melaka, we never meet as a gang of five again as what we used to do during our college years. I am very happy and move by them for taking time off from their hectic life to attend my opening and promise to meet all together again whenever I have a solo exhibition. So I do hope we can keep our promise next year as my 3rd solo tentatively fixed on Dis 2011 in Penang.