Creative Concept for The 6th Solo Art Exhibition by Becky Choong “IMPRESSION & IMAGERY ”～ Series of Innovative Dreamlike Landscapes
My landscape paintings embody the serene beauty and vast, boundless purity that my soul seeks.
The cultivation of art and Buddhist philosophy has long been deeply rooted in the creative wellspring of my heart. Like a gentle stream, this influence flows quietly through my life, transforming into a profound aesthetic value at the core of my being.
Art and religion are sacred realms, radiant with the glory of truth, goodness, and beauty. The inspiration for my landscape creations lies in the practice of channeling the inner joy of tranquility and serenity through my brushstrokes, wandering freely among mountains and clouds. This approach integrates the open, colorful expressive techniques of Southeast Asian Western painting with the foundational aesthetics of traditional Chinese ink painting, forming a unique fusion. The result is a dreamlike vision of landscapes that captures the ethereal and innovative spirit of overseas Chinese artists.
From my early stages of "imitating nature" to later "representing nature" through sketching, I came to believe that a thoughtful artist must transcend the replication of traditional techniques and instead strive toward "creating nature." Pure artistic expression should reveal an artist's distinctive style and spiritual language, enduring the test of time. This journey requires breaking free from traditional thought patterns and integrating learned knowledge and observations to craft a unique expressive style.
My “IMPRESSION & IMAGERY”series of innovative landscape paintings, following the transformation presented in my fifth solo exhibition “Zen Joyfulness”in 2022, continues to explore the serene beauty and infinite space my soul yearns for. I let my imagination soar into the vast skies, finding companionship with heaven and earth as I roam freely through poetic and tranquil winter landscapes filled with drifting snow.
My artistic journey began with training in both transparent and poster colors during secondary school. Later, I studied watercolor and ink painting under personal mentors during my university years. In Malaysia, I explored Southeast Asian batik art, and from 2013 to 2016, while pursuing my master's degree at Nanjing University of the Arts, I spent a semester with Professor Gong Jianpei at the School of Design, delving into the traditional resist-dyeing techniques of Yunnan. These experiences, combined with the vibrant multicultural life of tropical Malaysia, have inspired me to develop a distinctive creative style.
This journey has led me to explore artistic possibilities through:
- Mixed Media with Rice Paper
- Modern Ink Paintings with Rice Paper
- Watercolor （a fusion of transparent and poster colors)
- Acrylic Painting
- Resist Arts
Throughout my practice, whether in watercolor or my beloved Chinese rice paper, I remain steadfast in transcending traditional forms and techniques. I consciously avoid replicating established methods, striving instead to create a unique artistic identity. The textures and vibrant layers in my works result from experiments with self-made brushes, crumpled paper techniques, bare branches, and other innovative materials and methods.
I see the vast landscapes of nature as a reflection of my inner emotions and aesthetic ideals. The tranquility and distant beauty of misty mountains, snowy peaks, and the pure stillness of winter landscapes resonate deeply within me. These images evoke the Chinese philosophical ideals of Laozi and Zhuangzi, as well as the Buddhist meditative visions and poetic sensibilities of scholar-artists.
Art, as I see it, transcends the rigid frameworks of reality, offering a path to spiritual refinement and sublimation. It embodies the ideal of integrating art into life and life into art, emphasizing imaginative freedom and unrestrained creativity. This philosophy aligns with the Zen-inspired aesthetics of Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei, whose works captured the essence of "painting within poetry, poetry within painting," as exemplified by the lines:
“After the fresh rains, the empty mountains come alive; the late autumn air fills the scene with tranquil beauty."
Art is fluid, emotional, and liberating. It is a radiant creation that inspires confidence and uplifts the spirit. Pure artistic creation must transcend rigid conventions and mass-produced repetition, offering instead a unique and soulful expression.
Rooted in the ancient Chinese philosophy of finding solace in the infinite beauty of nature, my aesthetic vision seeks to bring the spiritual depth of Laozi and Zhuangzi’s teachings into artistic expression. The integration of traditional resist-dyeing techniques, Chinese rice paper, and Buddhist philosophy into my compositions represents a distinct and innovative approach, reflecting the diverse cultural influences of my journey.
——Becky Choong (M.A)PKT