The Healing Power of Art
With constant demands in our work and personal lives, self-care is not a luxury. It is a necessity for good mental and physical health. I have tried to balance the demands as a professional with activities involving creativity, contemplation and being with nature.
My creative hobbies include writing and painting. Periods of contemplation for me are found in daily meditation and mindfulness practices. Being with nature expressed in gardening and flower arranging gives me a sense of interconnectedness with the simplicity of nature, and the changing beauty of the seasons.
I have been painting for many years. For me, art is healing as it fosters:
Periods of concentration & calmness found in meditation and mindfulness
Creativity and joy in reflecting on the subject matter
Being present with what is evolving in the artwork
In the above video - “ARTWORK & THE POWER OF ART EXHIBITION”- I share two of my favourite paintings when I was invited to exhibit my artworks at the Power of Art World Contemporary Artists Exhibition, National Parliament, Canberra, 2024.
Art works and the Power of Art Exhibition, National Parliament, 2024
CONVERSATIONS IN SHADOW
The first, titled Conversations in Shadow is a batik painting, using fabric, wax and oil paint. The painting features two ladies in conversation while cleaning bananas in the deepening shadow of the sun, a typical Malaysian village scene. The painting is my Year 12 examination art piece, and it won a State Art Prize. I was inspired by the work of the artist, Paul Gauguin and his paintings of Polynesian women. I added my own Malaysian accents in the local dresses worn by the women and in working with local fruits.
THE TAO OF THE OUTBACK
I painted this Chinese blue artwork when I first came to Australia. At that time, I had not seen the Australian outback except in my imagination. So, I used my Chinese background to interpret the outback. I soaked rice paper and newspapers in water to make papermache. I attached the wet paper on the canvas and used wax and the batik method of crackling to allow the acrylic paint to seep through the cracks, giving the impression of a burnt Australian outback. Gold leaves were sprinkled throughout the leaves and earth to provide texture, and shades of blue and grey painted over the scene to invoke a place of mystery and sanctuary, the spiritual path of the TAO.
Art has been an incredible creative outlet of work-life balance for me. I hope that you enjoy my paintings. And try this self-care practice for yourself.