A total of twelve all new paintings have been created to add to the FLOW of LIFE collection with a large portion as in the refreshing green series plus some blue and pink/orange variants. This new collection continues the ethereal and vibrant essence of Tokimeku. However, instead of drawing inspiration from a single location, FLOW of LIFE reflects my experiences of traveling and living across continents, all connected by a single thread—the GLOWING MIST & VAPOUR rising from the land.

Whether it was during my time living on a ranch in Warkworth, New Zealand, witnessing the mist rising across the meadow as dark horses trotted to graze, or when I was a rookie newspaper reporter covering the National Taroko Park in my home country Taiwan, with our jeep winding through the cross-island highway as night fog enveloped us, or when I visited Milford Sound with my mother when thousands of waterfalls downpoured from the deep and thick mist and vapour filled us with mystery and awe —these moments inspired this series.

FLOW of LIFE constantly refills, replenishes, and graces us, holding us in tenderness. Its beauty and wonder remind me of the fact that the Divine is ever present with us where we inhabit. Through nature’s ever-embracing gentleness, invite us to linger, receive, return and belong.

FLOW of LIFE allows me to paint my favorite subject employing my favourite painting method - pouring acrylic fluid unto raw canvas, using gravity to move the paint, creating raw and organic shapes and watermarks, experimenting with translucent layers and thick creamy paints. I love how the unpredictability of the fluid adds the beauty, surprises, freedom and joy to the works, perfectly in sync with nature of the FLOW and LIFE!

The collection will be available at Art in the Park and online soon. To purchase event tickets please visit Art in the Park.

Event schedule:

• 19th Thursday 6pm-9.30pm Public Opening Night. Purchase early bird tickets here

• 20th Friday 2pm - 8pm - General Admission 

• 21st Saturday 9.30am - 6.30pm - General Admission

• 22nd Sunday 9.30am - 4pm - General Admission

Event location:

EDEN PARK, Gate D, Cricket Avenue, The Grand Hall | Te Pā (Level 5, North Stand), Kingsland, Auckland

Yes I have another exhibition going on!! OPEN SANCTUARY!!!

Open Sanctuary is a collection of intuitive abstract works I created in 2022. Inspired by my art residency at Gulf Harbour where I get to enjoy frequent visits to Shakespear Park, a haven for native wildlife amidst sheltered bays, wetlands, regenerating native forest, cliffs, historic places and a lookout with views second to none. The concept of “Open Sanctuary” became alive to me. I became fascinated with this idea and saw not just the wildlife needs an open sanctuary but also our human souls. 

Under the vast horizon of the open sanctuary I feel expansive and enlarged, free and empowered. As if returning to the 7 year old kid I can run, frolic and explore as I am. In my dabbling into psychology, I understand how we humans have contradictory needs for both safety and adventure, control and surprise. And as a creative, we constantly live between the tension of the pendulum, both needed to keep our creative soul alive and fresh. I start to see how “Open Sanctuary” could be the perfect metaphor for a creative haven where adventures abound in a safe flourishing ecosystem. 

My technical approach is an utter surrender to the intuitive process. Without much thinking nor planning, I followed the 7 year old in me, simply allowing a wide range of paints and ink to have a party on the canvases. I abandoned traditional brushes and instead employed rollers, silicon wedges, foam brushes, trowels, and fingers. I followed my need for certain colour palettes and enjoyed the very tactile experience of creating a diverse textures of the paints on canvas. 

I realised mostly in retrospect what I was trying to capture on the canvases - something 

Like a new leaf unfurled in the spring breeze

Like the smile of a baby dreaming away in strong arms

Like the shellfish exposed its vulnerable flesh soft and tender 

Like the newborn skin pink and young and transparent

In an Open Sanctuary our hearts can start to open up

Feeling trusting, accepted, embraced again

The safety allows us to explore the unknown and chase the wild

There is a deep knowing that after our adventures we have a resting place to return to. 

Newmarket is widely known as Auckland’s premier shopping, entertainment and hospitality precinct but are you aware of fine art galleries and outdoor art nestled amongst the boutique-lined streets? Celebrate our diverse and vibrant arts community with ‘The Art of Newmarket’ – a two week long celebration of creativity here in Newmarket. There will be art cycle tours, gallery events, drawing classes, walking tours and more. I’m exceptionally excited to have my solo exhibition “Spread Your Wings” held at the Newmarket Station Studio 2 and be part of the Walking Art Tour organised by Street Artearoa on 27/28 Aug and 03/04 Sep!

“Spread Your Wings” exhibition has three parts: my new Expressive Female Portraits, Felicity Floral Collection and Mixed Media Collage Collection. It is an ode to our undefeatable spirit and a call to us collectively to break out of the cocoons, stretch our wings, and fly in our genius zone.

Through unique layering and blending with mixed media, oil and acrylic, my female portraits are vibrant, evocative and each tells a story with a message to expand the viewers’ imagination and ignite their own magic within. My process involves combining the digital during the design phase and the analogue during the painting stage, and merging the realism and the abstract. I especially love layering the abstract background intuitively and playfully on canvas, and then render the figures in oil with all its lush and rich vibrancy and texture.

The Felicity Floral Collection is composed of twelve exquisite small floral works that celebrate the abundance of heart. My love for painting flowers comes from my early childhood memory of watching my mom working in our garden when the dew was wet and the sun was cheerful. I would be playing around messing with soil, counting flower petals or reciting poetry. When I painted these floral pieces I felt exuberant joy and contentment just as a little girl exploring in a safe haven. I hope each painting helps to fill your cup too. When our hearts are filled with goodness, we can share our abundance with those around us and in the world.

The exhibition is especially a tribute to women. I believe that when we lift up one woman, we lift up a family and hence an entire community. That is the driving force and message behind my art and *Spread Your Wings* art exhibition. So come along, join the art tour or simply visit the studio. I will also have live art demo Wed - Sun 10 am - 4:30 pm.

To enjoy the works online, read about my creative thoughts behind the works and to make purchases, you can visit the Spread Your Wings Exhibition Page.

To find out more about The Art of Newmarket, please visit Newmarket Business Association Blog.

To book your free tickets for the ART WALK TOUR, please visit Street Artearoa.

Special thanks to

Newmarket Business Association - Arts & Heritage

Johnny Hui

Robert Hsieh

Tomoko Saitoh

AUTUMN RUSH - Members' Exhibition at the Ogle Gallery of Lake House Arts Centre

Thank you Hannah at Lake House for curating this members’ group show. I got to meet new talented artists and present Dance to the Heartbeat (mixed media with oil & acrylic) - to the world.