"Truth Be Told.. Imaginary Doubts'
Featuring a selection of works by emerging artist Shuai Feng
'Truth Be Told.. Imaginary Doubts' features Shuai Feng, an international emerging artist in our community. The values we strive to cultivate as an artist community and a gallery include the vitality inherent in intellectual explorations.
There are interesting observations about the undeniable power of the creative force. Does it stand independent even from ourselves and our identity? Does it wield itself as part of a greater consciousness? and are we merely channels and conduits for its flowing energy?
When I found out I could paint I felt like ‘’wow finally I have a way to express myself.. I don’t have a plan about what I want to show but it is through the painting and how it feels.. ~Shuai Feng
Shuai has a very strong sense of needing to express and translate her identity. it is actually a process of understanding further the different elements of herself. Through portraiture, the exploration of the world outside began intensely. The first year she began painting she would paint nearly a portrait every day. This process of relating through portraits continues through today even as her art has explored further boundaries into the subconscious and dream worlds.
I also want people to know my thoughts... I want to pose a lot of questions.. and for people to join me in asking questions..I think I want to tell people who I am.. so during the painting I can find some way to translate.. ~ Shuai Feng
Magic and Reason.. are the Contrasts..
Imagination is freedom.. its a place without rules, without restrictions.. or maybe it is art.. Reason is realism, without imagination..
The 'Magic' of Weird Bird
In these watercolours, we begin to see a theme of strange animals and shapes. There is a recurring theme. A theme of strange-looking birds appears throughout her illustrations during this period of time. By this time, the process of defining her identity as well as her exploration for ‘Truth’ is immersed in the freedom of imagination. The symbolism of her work explodes in a strong gush, in her watercolour series. She is drawn to natural elements in Nature and identifies the shape of the weird bird as somewhat akin to her ‘Soul’.
Shuai Fengs’ creative journey takes her on an adventure. One that is full of the daring energy so identifiable to the person she is. Even in a mind strongly grounded in logic, the creative instinct challenges our reason. Intuitively guiding us towards visualisations that seem to challenge our preconditioned reality yet somehow brings us to a clear truth within our reality.
Credits:
Featuring the artworks of artist Shuai Feng. Photography by Sawidji Studio