I am a Chinese-American, raised in two very different cultures, and therefore I have been exposed to significantly diverging viewpoints, rituals, and customs. Consequently, perhaps it is not surprising that notable differences, such as black and white versus color, abstraction versus realism, and symbolism versus direct depiction inform my imagery. The subject matter itself that I work from — transient plants and permanent rocks — embody strong contrasts. Even the materials I employ, like traditional chinese watercolor 工笔 (gongbi) and graphite reflect disparity.

Despite these and other contrasts, I am basically even-tempered; harmony is an important part of my disposition. Therefore, along with visual and conceptual contrasts, I want the visual images I create to be harmonious.