The idea for this exhibition first emerged in my head in 2018. In Chinese, the phrase “Illusion of All Kinds of Love” is “The Myth of Love” read backwards. The phrase’ hidden meaning hints at the subtle elements of abstraction that I’ve been incorporating in my work. This exhibition is the first comprehensive showing of my artworks created during the past five years.
This show consists of two types of works: oil paintings and charcoal drawings. The drawings portray various types of love and relationships, as well as the sense of attraction and obsession that we experience when observing other people in love. I’ve captured many scenarios that tug at my heartstrings with live drawing, and I hope to convey these fleeing emotions to those who aren’t there. The oil paintings, on the other hand, are recreations of existing images that permeate the environment in which I grew up. The image and idea of love exists everywhere in movies and literature, and its omnipresence naturally teaches us to love others and to lose ourselves in similar scenarios. Though recreating existing images, I hope we can get a glimpse of ourselves and others without giving into stereotypes.
I also hope that my paintings could allow everyone to slow down, to momentarily escape our fast-paced life, and to immerse ourselves in the world I created in order to find a sense of equilibrium.