'Reflections 1'
Alissa Kim Tjen

'Swallow'
Fanny Tang

'Aros, Isle of Mull'
Suzanne Thomson

Water - precious, life-giving, powerful. Water means many things to many people. Artists Alissa Kim Tjen, Fanny Tang & Suzanne Thomson take varied inspirations  from & approaches to depicting water & what it represents to them - everything above & below the surface.

Alissa Kim Tjen is a modern landscape artist based in North Vancouver. She explores her impressions of the landscape based on her memories of places rather than what is representational. Her current body of work explores what is beyond water - delving into the dualities of reflections & depth. Water allows images to intersect with each other, making it a universal home for the world underneath & above. Using acrylics for their ability to manipulate levels of opacity, Kim Tjen works in layers of bold colours & intuitive brush strokes to create dreamlike depictions of water where reflections merge with the ripples on the surface & what’s below. This joining of layers reflects her inner peace & reconciliation - a metaphor for her inner being.

Fanny Tang is a Richmond based multidisciplinary artist inspired by nature. Her work combines realistic depictions of animal & plant life, graphic symbols & abstract bursts of colour & form. Tang’s series of coral reef paintings capture life’s journey through a metaphorical underwater world. She paints in bright & bold colours, surreal & exuberant tableaus of hope. These worlds are populated by Tang’s personal lexicon of symbols that have both cultural meaning & personal significance - water represents living & connection; puffer fish symbolize suffering; jellyfish freedom; coral act as barriers & paths to navigate; Chinese characters reference philosophical sūtras. Capturing the unconscious mind beneath the surface of her conscious reality, Tang shares a free & hopeful vision of what could be.

Suzanne Thomson is a West Vancouver based artist. Her textured & atmospheric acrylic paintings border on the abstract. Thomson’s collection of seascapes act as connections to her heritage. Visiting Scotland & Ireland awakened a sense of ancestral memories which continue to inspire her work. The physicality of these rugged coastlines, mystical bogs & ever changing seas are reflected in bold brushstrokes & multiple layers of texture & colour; capturing the essence of the crisp air, hearty soil & the contrast of the crashing tides with the calm beauty of the ocean. As she paints, Thomson imagines the ancient ships that sailed the seas & those that walked the beaches & bright green fields - connecting the submerged past to the present.

Artists Talk Livestream

Watch an inspiring & engaging livestream conversation with the artists as they share insights into their artistic processes, inspirations, take a tour of the exhibition.

Plan your visit to the Kay Meek Arts Centre.