Yin Lu

The woman in the picture is an image that shows my passion for the art of painting. As I stroke every feather of the red-crowned cranes, they come alive and revolve around me. And as they fly covering me with their grace, I transform into the red-crowned crane fairy, spearheading our flight. Of the same hue are the Chinese red plum blossoms, encouraging us in our journey, bidding us farewell. Red-crowned cranes are popular in Chinese paintings. Artists love them for their grace. They symbolize longevity and immortality. For centuries, Taoism believes that these beautiful winged creatures pursue fruitful expeditions. Their natural grace associates them with peace and supreme divinity. They are the Chinese gods' messengers of faith. The Chinese red plum blossoms are admired for their resilience and credibility. They are naturally strong and inspire hard work. They have an unwavering faith in themselves. While the red-crowned cranes are the closest creatures to phoenixes, the red plum blossoms stimulate the spiritual outlook of the descendants of the dragon. Springtime is the season that celebrates these ancient flowers. This is the season for new beginnings, for hopeful journeys. I surround myself with these elements in my spiritual journey through art. My body is awake with the lust to travel and discover my deep roots. The dragon’s courage and strength uplifts me to continue moving. The birds are guiding my flight. I vow to maintain my grace and credibility towards the journey. I believe that my passion seeks no competition. As the fairy of the red-crowned cranes, I immortalise my own existence through this painting. This is my legacy. May the tradition remain as strong as the red plum blossoms.

The element of water commands the emotion on “Yearn”. Most recognisable is the handful choices of colours. Orange for the river, yellow for the protagonist, and blue for the sky. The piece shows a sensual woman, desirous, curious and ambitious. The body of water in this piece is the opposite of calm—it is active and flows heavily that gives rise to big and multiple waves. The Yellow River, claimed as the origin of Chinese civilisation, inspired this body of work. Water, in Chinese beliefs, is considered a woman. She is unpredictable and moody. Yet she remains irresistible to mankind. It rushes forward, yearning for its destination. Above the river is the great blue starry sky that reflects the design of the Australian flag. The woman, one with the river and sky, is a depiction of my yearning for the balance between freedom and peace. It is my desire for harmony. I long for peace to be maintained even when freedom risks its disturbance. Like the great dragon river and the immense and splendid sky, I yearn for freedom and peace to coexist. While this work aims to evoke a yearning emotion, I incorporate the importance of my Chinese heritage—the resilient spirit symbolised by the Yellow River.

Authentically Chinese, “The Lotus Blossom” highlights one of the culture’s most important values—purity. This work showcases numerous Chinese ingenuities. The calligraphy, bamboo plants, distant mountains and temple, are aesthetically Chinese. Above all, the lotus plant is revered for its wholesome nature. The calligraphy shows the work’s respect to Chinese poets. Tracing back to the ancient times, poets compare young women to lotus flowers. Compared to the flower, young women were praised for remaining untainted despite a tempting environment. They are like lotuses blooming despite the silt. This piece is an ode to Yang Wanli’s poem, “The Lakeside Temple at Dawn”. The poem is directly illustrated in this painting, “Green lotus leaves outspread as far as boundless sky; / Pink lotus blossoms take from sunshine a new dye.” The woman is shown to be the flower that blossomed from the lotus’ stem. She is pure as a lotus. Pale in colours, the style is inspired by the traditional ink painting techniques. The lotus’ purity spreads out in this work. All the elements in the painting renders an authentic Chinese picture. The lotus is reminiscent to my own childhood, before I migrated to another continent. I remember a more innocent time. My mind was free of impurities. I was young and careless. My heart knew no hate. It was time full of love and affection.

“Bloom from Within” shows two yellow-skinned women, intimately linked by peonies and surrounded by beautiful air-borne creatures. The red and yellow hues, the same with the colours of the Chinese flag, dominate this work. Yin and yang take the sides of each woman. The blooming peonies is a natural wonder. It is China’s national flower that dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This ancient beauty represents grace, elegance, fullness and peace. As the peonies bloom, the more beautiful it becomes. There two women symbolise my dual nature. My yin and yang. Yin and yang are sacred to Taoism and Daoism beliefs. The yin is the dark shade, shadowed and feminine, while the yang is bright, passionate and promising. The artwork shows one side of myself comforting the other. As the peonies bloom, so do I while I maintain the balance within myself. A bird and two butterflies fly around my two selves. They represent the traditional paper-cutting art of the Chinese culture. They are also common symbols of freedom. The piece conveys a message of growth that can be achieved through self-love and inner balance. I believe that people should confront their dark sides to allow the light in. Acceptance is the key to a peaceful life. To bloom like a peony, I went to my roots, discovered my true self, and from within I blossomed.