Jennie Lau

Painting in the Sky

"Painting in the Sky" is about expressing and interacting my personal mark-making and painting gestures in an expanded space – exterior environment such as architecture and nature, as well as time through the utilization of glass and mirror of a corner of my home in downtown Toronto. It intends to connect my passion and art practice with my daily life, experience, surroundings, reflection and sensation. It also explores the relationship between time and space.

“This work is an installation in an inner space – with one side of mirror panel and another balcony windows facing the street and Toronto Island. The work is about expressing and interacting my personal mark-making and painting gestures in an expanded space – exterior environment such as architecture and nature, as well as time through the utilization of glass and mirror, and creating the illusion of space and illusionary effects of painting in the sky. Based on my preliminary sketches, I use tuff-back papers as the surface to paint with watercolour and acrylic, as well as glitter glue pens and gold oil stick. I cut out the painted areas and glued them onto the window glasses and mirror. I decorated the floor with three pieces of my previous paper collage, using symbols found in many national flags such as sun, star and moon to represent the sky and galaxy, as well as maple leaves and petals of Hong Kong Orchid Tree (Bauhinia blakeana) to represent my identity. My research and inspirations include the installation works of Sarah Sze, Laura Owens, and Kate Holcomb Hale. Click on the Camera icons above for videos of different visual effects.”