Thoughts

Thoughts?, 2019 (Oil on Canvas, 30 inch * 40 inch with depth 1.5 inch)

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This piece of artwork “Thoughts?” is an expression of cluelessness and curiosity.

It can also be viewed and interpreted in 4 orientations.

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Angle 1

Viewing vertically, at the center, there is a movement of fingers (red circular curves at the right upper area) lifting the drape (the distinctive black and red lines). A curious face (below the bright blue shade at the center) pops out peeking. Below the face, there are the blue and red lines showing the tangling motions of two bodies, as if they are undressing one another. On the left, along the red lines (where the bodies entangle), the black shape is the hair of a toddler, whose body is colored in ultramarine blue stepping on a green wedge, reaching over. The toddler is leaning forward as if he is clinging towards the parents for attention.

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Above the black lines (the drape), there are two faces at the center top. The right one in cerulean blue color is upside down while the left one with glasses is not.

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To the right center next to the ultramarine blue lines, the bright blue and green lines resemble the moving reflection of the body in water.

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At the further right of the painting, there is a face of a woman drawn in black lines with red mouth.

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Below the yellow region at the bottom, the red and darker blue lines create a creature of a giant fish. To the right of the yellow region, there is a seashell (standing vertically).

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This painting creates an imaginary family of seven living at sea.

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Given a little information about Artist W:

Artist W was born in Hong Kong and grown up in a family of seven. Hong Kong used to be a fishing port in the older days where Artist W has always been fascinated in the sea living of the past while growing up.

?Angle 2

This orientation presents the growth process (right lower to left upper) from being a toddler, a young teen, an adult and then reaching old age.

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A toddler is curious looking up to the sky with mouth open questioning the world.

The toddler is with green hairs and black eyes.

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A young teen is not looking as if she is not listening to anything.

The young teen’s hair is painted in red lines.

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An adult with experiences is looking back at what she has done.

The face of an adult is drawn in ultramarine blue lines at the middle. The blue lines portray face lines/wrinkles.

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Reaching old age is the time to look away without looking back.

The medial vertical curvy cerulean blue line on the left outlines the face of the old woman.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

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The horizontal red curvy line at the top defines the shape of the woman’s hat.

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There is a face shaded in black color with curious eyes (drawn in black lines) at the right lower corner, whereas there is a woman with sad eyes in a beautiful (white, teal, black, blue and red color) kimono on the left.

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This orientation suggests the less you know, the more you are curious, the happier you are.

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In life, Artist W realizes living in bliss is from not knowing; yet true happiness comes from surviving the truth of knowing.

Angle 3

This orientation is a classic look of an imaginary kingdom that Artist W has in mind. Her love for old Chinese poems and words has inspired her art dramatically.

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There is a person as huge as a kingdom on the right fishing a GIANT FISH that is jumping out of the water on the left.

Angle 4

Given a little information about Artist W:

Artist W was once a sailor for a few months. As we all know

“Once a Sailor, always a sailor at heart.”

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This orientation provides the raft (painted in black lines) at the left lower bottom area. As you go above the raft, there are many cerulean blue lines depicting ocean water. To the right of the blue lines, there are orange area that is sand followed by green curves, which are green land.

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The red lines at the middle represents various things. They depict mountains while they can also depict two entangled bodies underneath the blanket. To the right, the yellow region represents yellow river. As you travel up, ultramarine blue lines suggest iceberg. Above the ultramarine blue lines, there are light blue lines which are waves of the Caribbean ocean. As you sail along to the left, there is a ship that is painted in light purple and blue colors.?To the further left, those blue and teal shapes represent ocean waves hitting the front of the big ship.

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The right top corner where red, black, white, and blue shapes is the view as you see standing on the deck of the sailing ship. The blue lines at the top right medial area suggest roller coasters.

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The roller coasters implies that the emotional tension on ship is as intense as riding a roller coaster.

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Under the purple and blue ship on the left, there are red lines indicating blankets. Below that, there are two people rolling from the beach (left) to the bed in the cabin (right).

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The painting “Thoughts?” expresses in this orientation giving the meaning of this poem.

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Familiar Sail to the Port

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Sailors travel across ocean,

walk through sand and green land,

climb the mountain,

cross the yellow river,

hit the iceberg.

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Enter from the empty raft to the fancy big ship.

As the waves hit,

my lover and I stare at one another

underneath the blanket.

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There is never ending sail.

Yet, love ends

as the ship remembers the port.

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Artist W

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