Portrait 'Garth & Asha'

Ink on acid-free paper

year: 2021

size: 300 x 220 mm

SOLD, collected by private collector, Auckland, New Zealand

Commissioned portrait 'Jennifer'

Ink on acid-free paper

year: 2019

size: 300 x 220 mm

SOLD, collected by private collector, Auckland, New Zealand

'Nu-wood: Tamaki Estuary No.1'

wood, gesso, acrylic

year: 2016

size: 70 x 800 mm

finalist in Estuary Art Awards 10th Anniversary 2016, Malcolm Smith Gallery (Uxbridge Art Centre), Auckland, NZ

Artist Statement:

This project is inspired by my international artist in residence project in China where is the fastest developing country in the last 30 years. I was thinking what is the advantage and disadvantage for the ecology in the city expending and developing. Ecology protecting and destroying follows the city growing up is an important topic not only in China but also in New Zealand.

In this Nu-wood project, I want to use the work to reflect the current face of Tamaki Area: well balanced of ecology protecting and city growing, also multi-cultures intergrading.

I spend lots of time walking around Tamaki area to experience the ecology and environment. I select a driftwood from Tamaki area as my material. In my opinion, the driftwood is a special natural object, which reflects time, the river and the environment. I use my flora pattern to cover part of the wood, the pattern intergrades a Chinese flower and the New Zealand traditional pattern. Asian immigration is growing up fast in Tamaki area, different background and culture people live and work together to make the area special, full of energy and attractive like flower.