Gallery Kayafas, Boston ,MA, USA
October 20 —November 25, 2023
Life is full of unpredictable opportunities for change to overcome suffering, unfairness, and disappointment. Free will means choosing to embrace and transcend life’s challenges. This exhibition reflects choosing to rise up through personal responsibility to positively impact others.
Through years of self discovery, I transitioned my main focus to philosophical artistic pursuits. Embracing and overcoming doubts and discomfort freed my artistic spirit to grow. Inspiration and intuition guide my art making.
Seeking dialogue with my painting, I use faster drying material like acrylic paint for spontaneity and responsiveness. Waiting, boundaries and restrictions fade away. Style is a by-product of my creative process, not the cheese in the mousetrap. Collage offers symbolic and historical references. Tools from hardware stores, cooking gadgets and even toy cars create textures and images. The resulting art reflects life: imperfect, rustic, multi-layered, full of stories, philosophy and love.
This exhibition includes miniseries reflecting this process. Chinese classic and folk dance performances, ballroom dance competitions, and simple free dances inspire lines, shapes, and color. As a fan of Kung Fu legends since childhood I sense its depiction of strength and skill. After visiting the Gene Culture exhibition at MIT Museum, I combined Science, Kung Fu and pandemic social events to reflect on human perseverance and hope for the future. Buddhist and calligraphy images transcend the ordinary and embrace the mystical. Finally, the deep sky, air of spring, beautiful lakes, fragrance from trees and flowers reflect on our wonderful planet and universe.
I hope viewers feel inspired and embrace their own transcendence.
Embracing Taranscendence
In this painting, science and spirituality converge in a dreamlike space where Adenine (A), a fundamental nucleotide of DNA, transforms into a fluid dancer. Each pink dot represents an atom within adenine’s molecular structure, labeled as C (carbon), H (hydrogen), or N (nitrogen), reflecting its true composition of C5H5N5. This artistic portrayal captures the dynamic essence of adenine, merging its scientific precision with the grace of dance. The dancer extends toward the luminous Medicine Buddha, standing within an ethereal, womb-like oval, radiating light and healing energy. The Buddha, encircled by delicate lotus patterns, embodies the timeless wisdom of holistic well-being.
Above, a DNA molecular structure hovers like a celestial imprint, a reminder that the fabric of life is encoded within us. The presence of the soft pink "moon"—a suspended, watchful presence—suggests an unseen guiding force, suggesting cyclical renewal, balancing science and the unknown. Together, these elements dissolve perceived barriers between logic and mysticism, offering a vision of interconnectedness where knowledge and transcendence coexist.
Healing Power: Medicine Buddha and Science
Universal Us Series
Reflections on the Beginning of the Life
This painting contemplates the origins of existence through cosmic and biological perspectives. A dark blue circle, evoking a primordial void, cradles a luminous nebula—the spark of life. A curving double-helix band arches across, bridging creation and evolution. Below, an octopus rises from dreamlike waters, its limbs entwined with DNA strands. Emerging from the octopus’s grasp, a thymine figure transforms into a sword dancer. Each pink dot marks an atom within thymine’s molecular framework, labeled as C (carbon), H (hydrogen), N (nitrogen), or O (oxygen), reflecting its precise composition of C5H6N2O2. Together, these elements embody the delicate balance between science, nature, and the mysterious origins of life.
Awakening: Dance of Cytosine
This piece explores the interplay of movement, structure, and the essence of life. A striking dark blue square, enigmatic in its rigidity, contrasts with an organic golden form that pulses with vitality. Eye-like shapes peer outward, their pupils intricately mapped with DNA sequences, while below, a cytosine-formed figure rises from a hexagonal structure. Each pink dot marks an atom within cytosine’s molecular framework, labeled as C (carbon), H (hydrogen), N (nitrogen), or O (oxygen), reflecting its precise composition of C4H5N3O. This portrayal captures cytosine’s dynamic essence, weaving its scientific accuracy into the grace of dance. The composition reflects the universal choreography shaping existence, advancing the "Universal Us" dialogue between science and human expression.
This painting explores how fundamental structure of life take on a fluid, rhythmic form. The Guanine (G) molecule transforms into a dynamic dancer, its movement echoing the interconnected forces that shape all living beings. Each pink dot marks an atom within guanine’s molecular structure, labeled as C (carbon), H (hydrogen), N (nitrogen), or O (oxygen), reflecting its true composition of C5H5N5O. Flowing organic elements, scientific notations, and ethereal light blend together to bridge the molecular and the cosmic. This piece, like the series itself, dissolves boundaries—between science and art, structure and spontaneity—to celebrate the shared essence of existence.
Guanine Molecular Dancing
Genetic Echo: A-T Bonds
This painting, part of the "Universal Us" series, explores the unseen yet foundational structures of life, focusing on the adenine (A) and thymine (T) pairing in DNA. Two hydrogen bonds, depicted as dotted lines, connect hexagonal forms crafted from paper printed with DNA coding patterns and cut into molecular shapes, symbolizing the molecular precision at the core of all living organisms. The background, with layered cool blues and muted earth tones, creates depth and mystery, evoking the microscopic realm of genetic code. The pair of shapes cut from Chinese newspaper echo the molecular pairing and the DNA double helix linking them, suggesting the transmission of both biological and cultural information across generations. Swirling arcs and organic shapes add movement, hinting at the dynamic processes of life. This piece invites reflection on the balance between structure and spontaneity in nature and art.
Molecular Memory: G-C Bonds
In this painting, I explore the intricate architecture of genetic information through the pairing of guanine (G) and cytosine (C), bound together by three hydrogen bonds—symbolized by the dotted lines extending between hexagonal forms. The deep blue triangular shape serves as a structural foundation, evoking both stability and the vast unknown of molecular processes.
Running along its edges, I painted a double-helix trim, reinforcing the DNA theme and the continuity of life. Within the blue form, an S-shaped line emerges, like a winding path through genetic code, a fluid motion within an otherwise rigid structure. Layers of newspaper fragments suggest the transmission of knowledge, linking scientific discovery to human expression. Through this composition, I aim to visualize the beauty of the unseen—the microscopic yet universal patterns that connect us all.
Life in Gravity
This painting explores the interplay of movement and structure versus freedom and constraint. A Kung Fu figure, formed by genetic coding, moves beside a tree-like plant on an otherworldly landscape—each shaped by gravity’s invisible force. A vortex looming overhead evokes unseen laws governing existence. DNA sequences and organic forms weave together, reflecting delicate balances in life’s design and the shared forces that connect all beings.
Universal Paths to Coexistence
A feather, perhaps etching the narrative of existence—hovers between realms, bridging life and imagination. It seemingly records the dance of all beings, from the microscopic to the cosmic. A dancer leaping across universal boundaries suggests that our stories, like our lives, are intertwined, continuously re-writing coexistence. Whether creation or destruction, memory or renewal, it inscribes the ever-evolving script of the universe.
Breaking Boundaries
This piece explores thresholds between worlds—the seen and unseen, the personal and the universal. A Kung Fu figure dynamically breaches mountains and water. An uplifted arm directs us toward a bird-like creature, half in each realm. A block of human DNA code defines yet permeates boundaries, hinting at unseen connections. While each figure exists in its own world, through interaction, they transcend individuality, merging into a greater oneness.
Multiverse
A multiverse unfolds, each with its own life forms. In one, a Kung Fu figure moves within an electrified grid, suggesting an engineered or cosmic structure. Three egg-like shapes hint at mysterious evolving worlds. A bird seemingly feeds upon or pulls apart space itself. Scattered red dots evoke cosmic bursts, molecular connections, or traces of creation.
Beyond DNA Mapping
Ancient echoes and possible futures intertwine in this painting, where strands of genetic code dissolve into organic and abstract forms. Small human-like figures evocative of prehistoric cave paintings, bridge the origins of human expression with the mysteries of biological evolution. A deep red egg-like form, holds the potential of life—perhaps a dinosaur egg, a primordial seed, or a vessel of creation waiting to unfold. Flowing lines and layered textures suggest a journey beyond the boundaries of DNA, where science, history, and imagination converge.
The Melting Eden
The painting imagines a distant, burning world with life barely holding on. Abstract flowers dominate while creatures lurk in the shadows, clinging to survival. Stars and a DNA helix connect this planet’s fate to a greater cosmic order, raising the question: Is this a vision of a far-off world, or a glimpse into our own planet’s future? Will Earth, too, become a place where life melts away?
A Tapestry of Ever-Evolving Themes and Inspirations
Rising Up - In Private Collection
In this evocative composition, a central figure ascends from the depths of material entanglement toward the liberating expanse of artistic expression. The journey is marked by a prominent white band, symbolizing the myriad challenges, resistances, and societal pressures encountered on a path to creative freedom. Within the band is the electrical formula for resistance, R = ρ(L/A), a scientific metaphor for obstacles impeding progress.
Despite these hindrances, vibrant pink tendrils gracefully emerge from the figure guiding the ascent towards an artistic realm. These strands suggest the transformative power of inspiration and the magnetic pull of creativity. Above are five symbols paying homage to trailblazing women artists: Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo, Hilma af Klint, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Helen Frankenthaler. Their pioneering spirits serve as beacons, illuminating the path and offering encouragement to persevere against adversity.
Below, the figure is the powerful allure of the material world through depictions of luxury cars, boats, cryptocurrency symbols, and stacks of currency. A smaller figure rolls an ancient Chinese coin, symbolizing the perpetual human struggle with materialism.
Rise Up is a personal narrative of resilience, inspiration, and a relentless quest for artistic liberation.
Wired Resistance
As an engineer turned artist, I ‘ve navigated both the structured world of science and the boundless realm of creativity. This piece reflects challenges women historically faced in engineering and science—fields once resistant to their presence. Though barriers have been broken, remnants of that resistance still exist.
At the one-third point of the composition, a white band shows the mathematical equation for weight: W = mg, a metaphor for the "weight" of societal resistance, or the “glass ceiling” which once constrained women in STEM. Above this boundary, darker tones evoke heaviness and struggle. Below, the scene lightens, signifying progress and hope.
The bottom portion represents a space for learning and discovery. Women scientists, rendered in pink, are surrounded by symbols of knowledge—engineering equations, fluidized bed reactors, semiconductor diagrams, and bacterial-like forms. These elements symbolize the process of grasping complex disciplines, from chemistry and physics to microbiology and electronics. The pink tendrils extending from the figures evoke both neural connections and electrical circuits, representing the intellectual energy required to break through barriers.
Above the dividing line, is the industrial world—factory buildings, heavy machinery, and semiconductor components. This darker space conveys the weight of history, a realm traditionally dominated by men. Yet, the pink lines surge upward, disrupting this rigid landscape, signifying the presence and impact of women in these fields.
Through mixed media and collage, Wired Resistance visualizes not only the obstacles but also the breakthroughs, reminding us that resistance is not just an opposing force—it is also a catalyst for change.
Rhythms of Life
Flowing movement evokes melody and life. Inspired by the energy of dance, this painting emphasizes rhythm in color and form. Soft colors create a sense of harmony and momentum. A DNA-like helix spiraling upward, suggests deeply ingrained rhythms of nature, music, and life itself.
Geometric and organic shapes intermingle—musical notes, molecular structures, and flowing lines come together like steps in a dance, each element playing its part in a larger composition. The interplay of spontaneity and structure, much like dance itself—is rooted in form, yet bursts with expression.
A fluid, abstract figure ascends upward in a sweeping motion. Surrounding it are flowing lines, soft gradients, and luminous hues suggesting movement. The figure appears to merge with surrounding currents, as if carried by an unseen forces such as musical, molecular structures, and celestial inspiration.
Background elements, drawn from science and music, integrate with the organic forms, reinforcing an aura of interconnectedness.
The work explores themes of elevation—physical, spiritual, and intellectual. The ascending figure suggests movement beyond limitations, embodying transformation and growth.
Ascendance
Painted during Spring, the season of renewal and awakening. Fragrant blossoms, tender greens, and warm rising breezes exude life. Branches stretch and reach, as if longing to touch the season itself where all senses awaken.
Layers of soft earth tones evoke a space of renewal, organic forms and growth. A vibrant red mass, intricate and alive, suggests the energy of awakening—perhaps a budding flower, a seed bursting with life, or the heart of spring itself. Dark tendrils weave through the canvas, linking elements together, like roots drawing from the past and carrying vitality forward.
Hints of nature emerge—floral impressions, green and yellow, and winding blue lines reminiscent of water or veins, nourishing the world anew. Patterns shift and overlap, mirroring the complexity of life reawakening after winter’s slumber.
Touching the Spring
Dreaming the Lake
Painted this after a long hike around the lake and through the woods. The deep blue form holds reflections of water, sky, and the movement of life within it, while the textured surface suggests layers of time and memory. Rippling lines trace paths across the water, like currents shifting beneath the surface. On the right, delicate flowers emerge from a pale ground, their presence soft yet persistent, as if carried in from another moment. The contrast between dark and light, fluid and structured, suggests—part dream, part memory, always changing.
Evapotranspiration
This painting dissolves boundaries between earth and sky, where water, air, and land intermingle. Translucent layers blend together, evoking mist and rainfall. Organic forms—leaf-like shapes, clusters of dots, and flowing lines—suggest cycles of growth and movement. A red leaf extends toward the sky, its veins and edges merging with atmospheric textures.
Various techniques, including scraping, dripping, and fine linear marks, show depth and fluidity. The surface carries traces of both structure and erosion, mimicking the continuous transformation of natural elements. Areas of thick impasto contrast with thin washes, reinforcing the dynamic exchange between solidity and dissolution.
The work reflects the cyclical nature of water as it rises, disperses, and returns. The absence of a fixed horizon removes a clear sense of direction, emphasizing the fluid and interconnected processes shaping the environment.
Celestial Seas
While humans send spacecraft into the cosmos—like the NASA DART mission I watched in 2022—perhaps something else is watching us in return. In the lower right, a hidden eye gazes outward, watchful and observant. The glowing orange form could be a distant nebula, a celestial presence in another part of the universe. The bold, straight-edged structure suggests something artificial—a spacecraft, a satellite, or a machine moving through space. This piece reflects on exploration, intervention, and the unknown forces that may be observing as we reach beyond our world.
The Universe is Beige
Scientists asked "what color is the universe?" The answer was a blend of all the light in the cosmos, reduced to something oddly familiar: beige. That paradox stuck with me. The vast, unknowable universe, condensed into a single, ordinary tone… or is it?
The deep black form in this painting recalls the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey, a mysterious presence that sparks transformation. Against layers of muted, cosmic hues, it stands as a portal, a void, or a marker of something beyond our understanding. Faint traces of movement—lines, textures, and shifting light—suggest the unseen forces shaping our reality and our universe.
Sacred and the Emerging Patina
The bodhisattva’s image, weathered yet enduring, stands at the center—an echo of the past infused into the present. This series intertwines the sacred and the mundane, layering ancient spiritual iconography with fragments of modern business data. Through image transfers and collage, remnants of the divine and the material world converge, dissolving temporal boundaries.
The worn textures and deep red hues evoke the passage of time, like a green cooper patina forming over history itself. Symbols emerge and fade—some deliberate, others accidental—mirroring the way meaning shifts through eras. In this dialogue between old and new, reverence and commerce, the painting contemplates the ever-evolving nature of human devotion and existence.
This piece is inspired by Chinese classical dance, drawing from the fluid elegance of movement and history. The left figures reach out to us from the famous ancient murals of Dunhuang Cave, China where celestial beings, or Tianxian, are depicted in graceful flight. As they cross into the middle section—marked by a shift in color and texture—they transition through time, stepping from the past into relevance in the present day. The right side, adorned with contemporary elements, represents the modern world. This visual journey embodies the continuity of culture, where history and tradition seamlessly flow into our present.
Springing Tianxian
This painting began with a deep black canvas, evoking the endless expanse of space. I layered in dark blues and purples to deepen the night sky, then added streaks of white and silver to evoke distant stars and light trails. The glowing yellow planet in the upper left took shape next—I used thick, textured strokes to give it a warm, luminous presence against the darkness, almost like a beacon in the void.
I painted fiery reds, oranges, and yellows at the bottom, letting them swirl and merge using fluid paint to achieve a smooth, flowing effect, reflecting the chaotic energy of a glowing meteoroid tearing through space. I blended in greens and pinks, allowing the fluid paint to bleed into each other, creating a sense of dynamic movement and cosmic turbulence. Thin, sharp lines in black, blue, and white crisscross the canvas, suggesting paths of asteroids or celestial forces slicing through the scene. I worked the brush with intention, building up the paint in some areas to create a rough, tactile texture—like the jagged edges of flames or the rugged surface of a distant planet. This painting suggests a raw, untamed moment in the universe’s endless dance, alive with mystery and motion.
Cosmic Inferno
I started with a light, pale green canvas, letting it suggest a soft, misty sky or a quiet, open space. I layered in washes of white and gray to create a subtle, ethereal background, almost like a faint mist hanging in the air. Then, I used bold, vibrant pink and red hues to paint large, swirling flower-like shapes—petals that twist and float across the surface, their edges feathery and fluid, achieved with loose, expressive brushstrokes. I added thin, delicate black and gray lines to connect the flowers with wiry stems or tendrils, giving a sense of movement and structure across the canvas. Small red dots or buds are scattered throughout, adding pops of color and depth, as if new growth is emerging. I worked with fluid paint and possibly some ink or charcoal for the darker lines, letting the colors bleed and blend naturally to evoke a dreamy, organic feel. This painting, which I titled "Whispering Blooms," captures a moment of gentle chaos in a delicate garden, perfect for evoking a sense of airy beauty and quiet wonder.
Whispering Blooms
I began with a soft, pale pink canvas, setting a delicate, lyrical tone. Layers of gray, blue, and white washed over it, creating a textured, weathered surface—like an aged scroll, holding traces of history. Fragments of Chinese calligraphy weave through the composition, torn and pasted with frayed edges, evoking a sense of tradition and time. Beneath them, a jagged collage of English newspaper interrupts the flow, its sawtooth edges traced in crayon—a sharp contrast to the organic movement above. This interplay of languages reflects my journey as an immigrant, bridging two worlds, blending heritage with new experiences.
A sweeping yellow curve moves across the piece like a river of ink, its flow outlined in rough red lines, adding rhythm and contrast—capturing the vibrancy of cultural fusion. Pink and white circles punctuate the surface, some soft and hazy, others bold, reminiscent of blossoms or seals in traditional art. In the lower left, a black square with a star-like form emerges, its thick, textured strokes anchoring the composition, suggesting an ancient seal or emblem.
Through paint, collage, and crayon, I allowed elements to bleed, blend, and collide, mirroring the evolution of identity. Echoes of Culture is a meditation on transition, tradition, and transformation—a visual exploration of the spaces between past and present, root and reinvention.
Echoes of Culture
Layers of texture, symbols, and figures intertwine in this mixed-media painting, evoking the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. A delicate yet resilient thread extends from the hand of a historical Buddhist figure, guiding the eye across the canvas—perhaps a thread of wisdom, memory, or healing.
Abstract red patterns, resembling fingerprints or neural pathways, contrast with geometric forms, suggesting the dual nature of structure and spontaneity in both art and life. Soft washes of pale hues interact with bolder strokes of neon, highlighting the tension between ephemerality and permanence. A vintage data chart documenting life expectancy emerges, grounding the work in the realities of time, mortality, and progress.
Through layered textures and overlapping elements, this piece invites the viewer to reflect on the intersections of science, spirituality, and personal narrative—where healing and knowledge weave together across generations.
Threads of Time and Healing
Layers of deep red, like aged lacquer and oxidized copper, form a textured, timeworn surface. A Buddha figure emerges from this patina, weathered yet serene, standing as a quiet presence amid the shifting elements. Surrounding it, fragments of stock market numbers disrupt the sacred stillness, their rigid, materialistic codes dissolving into organic textures. A round form, marked with financial data, floats like a full moon or a coin—symbols of cyclical change and shifting value.
At the bottom, a patina-green box sits like an aged money chest, its contents unknown. Is it a relic of past wealth, a safe for treasures, or an empty vessel eroded by time? A butterfly, delicate and fleeting, lingers at the edge, a symbol of the transient nature of all things. Here, value is questioned—what is truly worth keeping? What is sacred, and what will inevitably fade? The painting navigates the tension between the spiritual and the material, permanence and impermanence, inviting the viewer to reflect on what endures beyond the grasp of time.
Sacred and Emerging Patina
I built this painting through layers—scraping, washing, and rebuilding the surface to evoke time’s passage, like an ancient manuscript worn by touch. The black form emerged early, its shape reminiscent of a scholar’s stone, the kind found in Chinese gardens. It felt right—a solid presence shaped by external forces, much like Su Shi himself, weathered by exile and hardship.
The faded calligraphy embedded in the composition references Han Shi Tie, Su Shi’s poem lamenting a life of cold food and colder fate. I wanted the text to feel partially obscured, dissolving into the layers, as if history is whispering rather than speaking outright. Two paths run through the painting, marking the twin exiles that defined his journey—interruptions, yet also continuations.
The dotted red lines pulse across the surface, guiding the eye, suggesting movement—perhaps the slow, inevitable rhythm of fate. Paint seeps and resists, creating spaces of density and emptiness, like thoughts drifting between past and present. This piece is about resilience, about how even in displacement, something solid—like a scholar’s stone, like Su Shi’s words—remains.
Exiled Echoes: Scholar’s Stone and Su Shi’s Journey
I painted this piece in 2021, during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic—a time of isolation, uncertainty, and longing for hope. The bold black character for "luck" (福) stands at the center, weathered yet unwavering, carrying a wish for fortune and protection in a fragile world.
The muted green-gray background reflects the stillness and unease of that time, while delicate white patterns and torn newspaper fragments weave through the composition, like distant echoes of connection and communication. A looping black thread stitches across the canvas, symbolizing the invisible ties that keep us connected despite distance.
Red circular marks—reminiscent of lanterns or seals—bring warmth, a quiet reminder of love and resilience. In the lower right, a small flame-like form rises, a flicker of renewal and hope.
This painting is my offering—a wish for luck and love, for myself and for everyone navigating an uncertain world.
Wishing for Luck
This painting captures my impression of Istanbul after my journey to Turkey, where I was deeply moved by the City's layered history, culture, and architecture. At the heart of this piece is the symbolic dome, evoking the presence of Hagia Sophia—an enduring emblem of transformation, serving as a cathedral, mosque, and museum. It embodies Istanbul’s spirit of the ancient and modern flowing together in an ever-evolving dialogue.
The domes, bathed in fiery oranges and deep earthy tones, seem to radiate centuries of history, while minarets rise like ghostly silhouettes, stretching skywards. In the foreground, vertical brushstrokes in green and blue suggest the City’s lush gardens, vibrant markets, and dynamic street energy. Golden architectural forms anchor the composition, bridging past and present.
White calligraphic marks—fragments of Arabic script—drift through the scene like whispers of prayers or conversations carried by the wind. These ethereal symbols tie together Istanbul’s spiritual essence, its layered narratives, and its ceaseless momentum through time.
Through color, texture, and abstraction, I sought to capture what I saw and felt—the awe of standing before Hagia Sophia, the hum of the city, and the way history breathes through every stone and shadow.
