Unfurling Solo Exhibition, 2023 - Auckland, New Zealand
Installation view of Unfurling, Becroft Gallery, Lake House Arts Centre, 15–27 April 2023.
Unfurling is a collection of my new abstract paintings, exhibited at Becroft Gallery in the Lake House Arts Centre, Takapuna. The works draw inspiration from the summer nightly walks I took with my parents as a five-year-old, when jasmines bloomed, lily pads floated, and fireflies glowed. Leaning into imagination and vaporous memories, Unfurlingrecaptures a time and space of belonging and magic through the exploration of abstract language.
Blending the soak-stain method pioneered by 20th-century abstract artist Helen Frankenthaler with the Asian water-ink tradition of my upbringing, Unfurling mesmerizes with its storytelling, vibrant color, transparent layers, watermarks, and expressive brushwork.
Original Paintings
Exhibition Shots
Public Program
At the opening of Unfurling, visitors experienced an immersive program featuring original songs and contemporary dance performed live, inspired by the themes of the collection. The artist talk offered insights into my personal journey of discovering my aesthetic story and included an interactive component, inviting participants to explore and develop their own creative reflections.
Studio Process
Closing Reflection
Unfurling marks a milestone in my practice, where I explored blending Western soak-stain techniques on raw canvas with the Asian water-ink tradition of my upbringing, developing an abstract landscape language to tell a deeply personal story. The work connected strongly with audiences and achieved commercial success. The public program — which included collaborations with songwriters and a dancer, as well as an artist talk sharing my journey — proved deeply resonant with the community. Together, these experiences laid a solid foundation for my ongoing artistic development.