A Journey Through Emotion and Experimentation
Expression is a deeply personal collection that marks the beginning of my painting journey. Each piece in this series tells a story of how I felt, what I was experiencing, and how I expressed emotions I didn’t yet have the words for. Started in 2022 and revisited during the most challenging year of my life, 2024, this collection reflects not only artistic exploration but also personal growth.
The name Expression is a tribute to the time in my life when art became my primary outlet. These paintings were born from a need to process emotions, to understand myself better, and to communicate what words couldn’t. As I look back, I’m grateful for what this collection represents—a time of creative release and discovery, even when it was heavy to carry.
Themes and Approach
This series is characterized by vibrant mixed-media compositions, each bursting with energy and emotion. The paintings are intentionally abstract, allowing viewers to turn them in any direction and discover their own perspective. While I have my own vision for each piece, I enjoy engaging with the audience to hear what they "see"—their interpretations often reveal something new to me.
In the beginning, I approached these paintings lightheartedly, focusing purely on the joy of creating. As the series progressed, I began to experiment more, incorporating darker tones and complex textures. This shift mirrored my evolving relationship with painting and life itself—a journey from perfectionism to acceptance.
"Energy" (2023)
"Energy"
"Energy" (closeup)
"Energy"
This painting exudes vitality and excitement. It was created during a time when I felt an immense passion for this series. With every brushstroke, I was hopeful and energized, driven by the continuous hit of dopamine that came with creating. "Energy" is the embodiment of that enthusiasm—vivid, dynamic, and full of life.
"A Light Touch" (2023)
"A Light Touch" (closeup 1)
"A Light Touch" (closeup 2)
"A Light Touch"
This piece is light, airy, and minimal, yet it retains the vibrant positivity of the series. It feels like a smaller, more delicate version of "Energy," with its bursts of color balanced by a sense of weightlessness. "A Light Touch" captures joy in its simplest form, a reminder that positivity doesn’t always need to be bold—it can be soft and subtle too.
"bold" (2024)
"bold" (closeup 2)
"bold" (closeup 3)
"bold" (detail 1)
"bold" (detail 2)
"Bold"
This painting marked my first real experiment with darker colors. At first, I didn’t like the results—I kept trying to fix what I saw as mistakes, layering over and over again. But through that process, "Bold" became a lesson in persistence and acceptance. I realized that sometimes the parts of a painting I resist the most end up being its most beautiful and meaningful elements.
"triptophobic vibes" (2024)
"triptophobic vibes" (close up 1)
"triptophobic vibes" (close up 2)
"triptophobic vibes"
This piece started with the same experimental spirit as "Bold," but it quickly became a reflection of my perfectionist tendencies. I struggled with the darker tones, trying too hard to make them "right" in my eyes. The result is a textured, layered painting that reveals the tension between striving for perfection and learning to let go. Over time, I’ve come to appreciate its complexity and how it captures that internal struggle.
"Meadow" (2022)
"Meadow"
This piece is an exercise in simplicity, created with a focus on one color. It’s a quieter moment in the collection, reflecting the power of restraint and minimalism amidst the vibrant chaos of the other works.
"Flow" (2022)
"Flow"
The very first physical painting of the series, "Flow" was an experiment in pure spontaneity. This piece is the least detailed of the collection, yet it holds a special place in my heart. Painting it felt effortless, as though I was in a meditative state, thinking of nothing but the act of creating. This was the moment I realized how much I loved painting.
"untitled_#1" (2022)
"untitled_#1"
The digital painting that started it all. Created before I understood the importance of canvas sizes, it’s a little too small and blurry, but it’s a cherished piece that marks the beginning of this journey.
The Collection As A Whole
Looking at these paintings now, I’m struck by how much they reveal about my personal growth. In the past year, I’ve begun to embrace what I once saw as mistakes, realizing that imperfection can be its own form of beauty.
At the same time, 2024 marked a profound shift for me—a year where I suddenly lost my passion for art, and painting became heavier than it had ever been before. This collection stands as both a testament to the joy I once felt and a hope for the future. I’m grateful I no longer need art as a way to express unmanageable emotions, but I also hope to rediscover that lighthearted passion again someday.
Future Aspirations
While this series is currently complete, I dream of expanding Expression into the realm of multimedia. I imagine these paintings as 3D projections in a large, dark room, enveloping viewers in a vibrant, immersive environment. This evolution would not only bring the works to life in new ways but also allow me to explore the boundaries of expression in a larger, more dynamic medium.