The "Emotion Series" is the other significant branch of my work, exploring human emotions through expressionism. Each piece is designed to reveal the multifaceted nature of an emotion and the subtle experiences of humanity that inform them.
For instance, one painting in this series depicts two figures who appear to be dancing but are hesitant to come close. The painting uses dynamic composition and color to express the sinuous yet strained connection between them. Despite their seemingly graceful poses, the distance between them suggests an insurmountable barrier. We take a voyeuristic pleasure in seeing this played out, and yet we know at its core the pain that such barriers can create. The audience, like the figures, get caught in a cycle of appreciation and hesitance.
In creating these works, I have incorporated the styles of Marc Chagall and Edvard Munch to build an immediately striking visual language. Chagall's dreamlike colors and fantastical scenes add a layer of romance and imagination, while Munch’s expressionism brings raw emotional impact and deep psychological exploration. Munch once said in 1889: “We will no longer paint men reading newspapers indoors and women knitting. We should paint people who are alive. They breathe, feel, suffer, and love.” This quote speaks directly to my creative philosophy here. Art allows us a window into life beyond the obvious conventions we all get pigeon-holed into, so why should we simplify our experience?
As mentioned above, my creative process is greatly inspired by cinematic imagery and storytelling. Film, as a visual narrative form, conveys rich emotions and psychological states through camera language and plot. These remain at play in my work here. I draw on narrative techniques and emotional expressions from film, transforming them into visual language in oil painting. This method not only expands the possibilities of artistic expression but also pushes me to continuously break new ground within myself, finding the manifold ways in which my creativity can cross-pollinate with itself. In essence, as I paint this series, I am redefining my own artistic boundaries.
