Jenny Wang

"I want viewers to appreciate the environment we have; I want to highlight the beauty and gifts that nature has to give. I think this is especially important during this time, because we need to realise that the way we’re treating the environment is very harmful. Furthermore, mass production has led to so much irresponsible consumption. For instance, people buy clothes only to wear it for a few weeks, then throw it out.

During the start of the year I went through quite a rough time, and I found solace and calm in visiting a park or a garden. I painted mostly from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens and Riccarton Bush (Saturday Farmer’s Market). Seeing the way the light hit the leaves, listening to birdsong, and enjoying the fresh air was incredibly comforting. These places were my sanctuary, somewhere where I could briefly escape.

I wanted to express this feeling through my paintings, but I wanted to play with the techniques and conventions. I didn’t just want to paint realistically, I wanted to do something more. I began experimenting with Impressionism, which then led me to Abstract Expressionism. By contorting, sharpening and softening shapes and mark making, I created paintings that are visually appealing."

Works by Jenny Wang