Liz

What we believe to be the most fundamental truths may not be truths at all. Inspired by the film Truman Show, the flat, two-dimensional sky symbolizes the constructed nature of the world and highlights how fragile and shallow our perception of reality can be. The surreal figure, painted in vibrant, otherworldly hues, pulls the sky apart, signifying an outsider breaking through the confines of our assumptions. Her unnatural skin tones symbolize her role as a challenger of conventional norms.

Our assumptions and beliefs often stem from unseen, unquestioned roots. The hands reaching upward symbolize how we engage with the world—visible, outward expressions of what we believe to be true. In contrast, the anguished faces represent the hidden roots, signifying the unexamined fears and biases that quietly sustain the reality we accept without question. The smooth texture of the hands juxtapose the uneven surface of the distorted faces, reflecting the need to face the disturbing truths.

We often take reality at face value, trusting in the structures and patterns that bring order to our world. This artwork aims to reveal the unexpected under the most familiar surfaces. The eggs arranged in a carton depicts a uniform, stable world. Grotesque creatures with twisted arms emerge from the shells, symbolising a disturbing force that distorts the ordinary. The carton and eggs are painted in white, deliberately juxtaposing with the raw nature of Ugly Roots.

This film explores the theme of breaking free from the layers of constructs that obscure our perception of reality. The act of ripping through the wrap symbolizes the struggle to escape the suffocating layers of assumptions and expectations that bind us. The plastic wrap, transparent yet restrictive, embodies the deceptive clarity of these constructs, appearing harmless while distorting truth. The shifting colors in the background signify the fluid and unstable nature of perception.

Stereotypes simplify and silence. This piece exposes the struggle of breaking free from those imposed on Asian women. The phrases carved and written across the canvas represent societal expectations placed on Asian women to be quiet, submissive, and invisible. In contrast, the central figure screams and the hands rips through the outward mask, rejecting these stereotypes. Her raw, distorted expression symbolizes defiance and the emotional toll of breaking free.

Stereotypes don’t just label—they leave marks. Stereotypical words are projected onto the figure’s face, curving and contouring around it as if they are part of her skin. This effect symbolizes how stereotypes are not merely external but deeply embedded. The subject stares directly at the camera with a piercing, confrontational gaze, embodying defiance and resilience. The black and white images juxtapose the vibrant colours, representing the conflicting interpretation of their own identity.

This artwork showcases a monochromatic portrait emerging from a chaotic, vibrant abstraction which challenges the assumption that identity is a fixed entity. The contrast between the realistic face and the amorphous surrounding signifies that what we perceive as reality is only a fragment of a larger, unknowable whole. The dark hand pulling the figure into the shadows signifies that the invisible forces continuously manipulate our sense of self, in which our environment shapes perception.

This artwork aims to challenge the authenticity of human interactions by subverting an everyday gesture into something ambiguous and unstable. Two hands lock in a handshake, symbolising a sense of trust and agreement. This contrasts with the surrounding of the translucent hands that are shifting through the layers, fracturing this sense of certainty. The unnatural pink hues further signify the surreal quality, distorting expectations and creating an atmosphere of dreamlike uncertainty.

This artwork displays a series of dynamic scenes, each capturing a moment of motion, collision, and transformation, signifying the aspects that shape our perception of reality. The composition of the scenes are divided into frames, symbolising the coexistence of order and chaos, representing the fragmented way in which we perceive time and space. The blurred and layered forms create a sense of impermanence, reflecting how our understanding of reality could just be based on fleeting impressions.

This artwork aims to depict the entrapment within a distorted reality. The plastic wrap signifies the figure being unconsciously blinded from facing the world. In contrast with Almost There, the figure passively stares through the plastic wrap, unwilling to break free, emphasising the acceptance of the distorted perception. The facial feature begins to fade into the plastic wrap, symbolising the disappearance of her identity.