Artist's Statement

I have been deeply influenced by traditional Chinese aesthetics, especially the art of the Song Dynasty. Daoism had a clear effect on the art of the Song Dynasty. In Daoist thought, an individual's own life is merged into the greater life of nature. This principle characterizes Daoist thought, in contrast to Buddhist thought. In Buddhism, an individual seeks release from the vexations of the human world to take refuge in a garden of idealism to meditate, reflect and gain release of one's mind and spirit. In contrast, Daoists put themselves directly in the midst of reality and worldly life. Their contemplation is not so much a loss of self as a distillation of thought.

The art inspired by this Daoist spirit has a kind of clear, intense emotion. In my work I attempt to express this kind of active - yet not imposing - outlook on life. For example, a subject frequently seen in my work is bamboo swaying in the wind. I choose this subject not simply for the formal beauty of bamboo stalks and leaves, but because bamboo bends gracefully in the wind yet never breaks under its force. It is this character of elegant strength that I admire. Another one of my frequent motifs is lotus blossoms standing straight up in the middle of a pond: beautiful, brightly colored and unmarred by the mud from which they rose. This scene resembles times in life when one preserves purity and goodness by refusing to be contaminated by malevolence. Water and clouds are other themes that appear throughout my work. I admire the way water and clouds are always moving and changing from definite forms to amorphous bodies; appearing weak yet inherently strong. Capturing the essence of water or clouds is like Chinese calligraphy: brushwork that is fluid and smooth and continues without stopping to create not just individual Chinese characters, but a moving spirit.

My work expresses my life experiences, the traditional ceramic techniques that I have learned, and the deep impression that classical Chinese painting and calligraphy have made on me. Given my character, I cannot create bold or imposing pieces. Rather, my aesthetic ideal pursues peacefulness through fine and delicate creation. I strive to unite the perceptual world view and impressionistic art of Eastern culture with the scientific curiosity and precision of the Western world.