There is a recent TikTok trend: People go take themselves on a “stupid walk for their stupid mental health” – which is hilarious and perfectly accurate at these freakin’ pandemic times. As a hooked TikTok viewer myself, I so did relate to that one. Having eventually given up on so many activities, social events, and habits for about a couple of years now, taking walks may be the only thing that helps me keep it sane in the nubbin.
Since where I live is a big big city, Istanbul that is, it’s is safe to say that we are blessed with the sea. So the reasonable thing to do is go see some damn water and literally gaze in and absorb the amazing scenery as much as one possibly can. But…since I was a little kid, I always wondered what it might feel like to wander around in a forest or hiking among the adventurous routes in great canyons and mountains – considering having only limited options over here.
A deep dive into dreamy reflections of Ariel Lee and Wong Chun Hei, one after another
When I found out about Wong Chun Hei Stephen and Ariel Lee, two amazing artists one based in Hong Kong and the other in southern California, I was struck by their talent to reflect what they experienced in nature into their art:
Inspired by the concept of the “Dream Journey” in Chinese landscape painting, Wong would regularly take hikes in places surrounding Hong Kong -before the pandemic-, capture the scenery first by hand, then recreate the scene from memory upon returning to his studio. Looking at his paintings – compositions loaded with a brilliant imagination, with vivid but still soft color tones, for me there is no other way but to feel a sense of joy and ease of mind. The scenery is slowly letting me in as if I’m in a magical place, hearing a tune only the lucky ones could.
And when it comes to Ariel Lee, being an avid hiker, camper, and climber, she would make wonders in her works, putting direct reflections of her personal experience in nature, namely the Californian wilderness. Glancing at the colorful paintings, it feels like I am on that trip that I’ve been dying to take for so long and wandering in the endless valleys of Joshua Tree Park. Just stunning. The little kid can finally chill at the sunset! Given that Ariel Lee aims to leave the viewer with a new perspective and a deeper connection to the natural world, I would easily say that the job is done and beyond.
It was by coincidence that I bumped into these two artists around the same days – and I’m so glad I did. Living on separate continents, creating beautiful and unique pieces, maybe there was a similar seeking in both minds which would be not at all unfamiliar to many of us.
I am sharing a piece of both their works below for your own feast. Take a look and see more from Ariel Lee’s website and Instagram, and Wong Chun Hei Stephen’s website as well.
Toronto based German-Brazilian painter Jeanine Brito’s paintings are often inspired by her recollections, but they revive on the canvases with a theatrical and surreal touch, while discussing the fragility of memories, and how they turn into merely a feeling when the details fade.
Hiroshima Shinkichi is a Japanese artist known for his caricatured paintings that exhibit the everyday actions of humans with an added tone of mockery.
Adegboyega Adesina’s paintings are tools to showcase the culture, the history, the political aspects and the personal belonging to his homeland Nigeria.
But How to Keep Sane? Take a Magical Walk in Lee and Wong’s (Self)reflecting Nature Paintings
There is a recent TikTok trend: People go take themselves on a “stupid walk for their stupid mental health” – which is hilarious and perfectly accurate at these freakin’ pandemic times. As a hooked TikTok viewer myself, I so did relate to that one. Having eventually given up on so many activities, social events, and habits for about a couple of years now, taking walks may be the only thing that helps me keep it sane in the nubbin.
Since where I live is a big big city, Istanbul that is, it’s is safe to say that we are blessed with the sea. So the reasonable thing to do is go see some damn water and literally gaze in and absorb the amazing scenery as much as one possibly can. But…since I was a little kid, I always wondered what it might feel like to wander around in a forest or hiking among the adventurous routes in great canyons and mountains – considering having only limited options over here.
A deep dive into dreamy reflections of Ariel Lee and Wong Chun Hei, one after another
When I found out about Wong Chun Hei Stephen and Ariel Lee, two amazing artists one based in Hong Kong and the other in southern California, I was struck by their talent to reflect what they experienced in nature into their art:
Inspired by the concept of the “Dream Journey” in Chinese landscape painting, Wong would regularly take hikes in places surrounding Hong Kong -before the pandemic-, capture the scenery first by hand, then recreate the scene from memory upon returning to his studio. Looking at his paintings – compositions loaded with a brilliant imagination, with vivid but still soft color tones, for me there is no other way but to feel a sense of joy and ease of mind. The scenery is slowly letting me in as if I’m in a magical place, hearing a tune only the lucky ones could.
And when it comes to Ariel Lee, being an avid hiker, camper, and climber, she would make wonders in her works, putting direct reflections of her personal experience in nature, namely the Californian wilderness. Glancing at the colorful paintings, it feels like I am on that trip that I’ve been dying to take for so long and wandering in the endless valleys of Joshua Tree Park. Just stunning. The little kid can finally chill at the sunset! Given that Ariel Lee aims to leave the viewer with a new perspective and a deeper connection to the natural world, I would easily say that the job is done and beyond.
It was by coincidence that I bumped into these two artists around the same days – and I’m so glad I did. Living on separate continents, creating beautiful and unique pieces, maybe there was a similar seeking in both minds which would be not at all unfamiliar to many of us.
I am sharing a piece of both their works below for your own feast. Take a look and see more from Ariel Lee’s website and Instagram, and Wong Chun Hei Stephen’s website as well.
Ariel Lee:
Wong Chun Hei Stephen:
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