The Dreaming

Alissa Kim Tjen

'Autumn Lake'

Biliana Velkova

'Streak from the Eye of the King Fisher'

Artists Alissa Kim Tjen & Biliana Velkova bring to life fantastical creatures, scenes & visions through vibrant dream-like paintings.

Alissa Kim Tjen is a contemporary artist whose work explores impressions of the landscape based on her memories of places rather than accurate representation. Her current body of work explores what is beyond water - delving into the dualities of reflections & depth. 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.

Biliana Velkova’s work conflates storytelling, folklore & magic. Her practice incorporates painting, drawing & performance to explore the significance of diaspora, cultural symbols & Slavic tales. Through her Bulgarian lens, Velkova inserts a magical realism narrative by presenting alternative ways of viewing & interpreting reality. Through ancient folklore, Bilana Velkova invites us to delve into the past & connect with old creatures whose mythologies that once provided ancient communities with a way of understanding the world & their place within it.