This show and its paintings are dedicated to my aunt who taught me magic, and my mum who taught me to believe in it.
16 November 2019, The opening of my first proper solo exhibition.
Writing this now brings immense guilt, as it does to share happy news during these past 5 months.
During the week of strikes leading up to the 16th, I wondered if I should postpone or cancel the exhibition. Whether it was for safety concerns or merely so I would feel less ashamed of a selfish achievement during such difficult times — both seemed to be plausible reasons. But by then I’ve already sent out invitations to the opening reception, and it seemed to be a waste of the immense kindness Be Tabula Rasa, Tabu, Jam,and Lydia had shown me in preparation for the event so we went on with the plan. The only way I could repay that kindness, and perhaps for my own conscious, was to pay it forward.
Calling the night one of the most magical moments in my life is an understatement.
I wanted it to be a casual space for people to breathe and relax, and as friends have told me afterwards, the opening turned into a safe haven, a parallel space, and what it would be if a group of twenty-something people spent Christmas with my family (this is true). But for me and my family, it couldn’t have been less perfect. From the late afternoon to the closing hours of the shop and exhibit, there was so much love, warmth and support that I am still too overwhelmed to express my gratitude for. I honestly don’t deserve your friendship and love and I no longer have tears left to cry.
(I thought waiting a day might make it easier to put the feelings into words but my vocabulary, as it seems, is definitely lacking.)
So thank you. Thank you for your presence in my life. Thank you for arranging this opportunity. Thank you for providing this venue and support for the exhibition. Thank you for agreeing to collaborate on a pop-up store and cafe (30/11 - 1/12). Thank you for sharing your beautiful voice and heart. Thank you for coming in a day early to help me install the exhibition even though I have no common sense whatsoever. Thank you for the wine and the advice and for always asking if things are okay. Thank you for the wine, the flowers, the last minute helping out with the exhibition as I was pulling my hair out, and your never-ending support and love. Thank you for the flowers, putting up with my shit Chinese, your constant rock-like validation, constructive criticism, overflowing love and support. Thank you for the failed surprise, the sweet dumplings and aloe jelly. Thank you for showing up even though you live on the opposite end of the city. Thank you for coming even though you didn’t know anyone else there. Thank you for staying the whole night and taking care of the people who came even though you would be exhausted by the end of it all. Thank you for buying my paintings and supporting our city and its people.
If this is just the opening, I hope that the exhibition will remain a safe space for the rest of the month. If you need breathing space, a tarot reading, a drink, someone to talk to, or cats to play with, I hope that this could be a place of some comfort to you and that it would be as magical as it is for me.
This show and its paintings are dedicated to my aunt who taught me magic, and my mum who taught me to believe in it.
Thank you ❤
Exhibition lasts until 14 December 2019, at be tabula rasa.
P.S. Photographs taken by Jam (be tabula rasa) and friends
