Suyao Tian

I was born during the one-child-only generation of China in the 80s. Growing up, I hadn’t any siblings, I couldn’t have pets, and making friends was limited by rules, inhibited communication and confidence. As a child, I often caught all kinds of small bugs, put them in jars. I spoke to them, played with them, and they were the only listeners in my childhood. Now I still often talk to these creatures, but Instead of putting them in the jar, I put them into my creations. They become a symbol and language of my own.

I mainly use watercolor medium, but I also use different pen marks to define the details of each painting to give the audience layers and depth of the painting. For example, I use color pencil, ink marks and a variety of pen marks in each painting. It creates a very interesting micro and macro world.

My creative process is to extract the fragments of memory and separate, reorganize and integrate them. This process is my communication with them, and a process of self- release and expression. These peculiar images often appear in my memory, dreams and subconscious imaginations, so I use abstraction to catch a moment, feeling, and unclear form when they appear in my mind. I use bright colors to celebrate my freedom

In a way, my mind is like another plane of existence. My paintings represent the places I have been and the stuff I have seen in the world my imagination. Time and space are completely different in my mind from that of the real world. I use my painting to understand the relationship between humanity, nature, and the universe. I continue to explore the internal questions of who we are and where we are.

In this fast-paced society, we have very little time and attention to our internal self.  To humanity the internal space is tangible and sacred. It is a secret space where no one else can be unless you them in. That why many of us are afraid to look inside, because we’re afraid to be alone with our thoughts. My allow work is like a “prompt”—the abstract shapes, biomorphic figures, and unknown elements pull you into a whimsical imagined world, inviting everyone to explore and have a conversation with themselves to find who they are; like a mirror, where what you see reflects something of yourself.

My work creates a peaceful and safe space that invites all people’s mind to wander and explore but is not overtly symbolic object to suggest the direction. Instead, I use abstract shapes, biomorphic, figure-like, and unknown elements to prompt curiosity. There’s no right or wrong, there’s no direction, just wandering to inspire people to explore and find themselves again. I sometimes hear people say they found peace from my works, that they find encouragement and healing. I believe inspiring people to find themselves is the most important function of my work and its place within society. This introspection is critical to society because no one is capable off a full peace and love for others without first understanding themselves, and it is my hope that my works provide such a peace to all who see it.