GLIMPSE OF US

Up and Up, 步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng in Mandarin), the new series of paintings from artist AOTH is a nod to vernal direction—to the start of spring, and the excitement of starting something new. In creating these ethereal new works, AOTH let her mind and body do the work, letting trauma and emotion flow freely then release onto the canvas. The series mirrors the highs and lows the artist had experienced in the time prior to creating these works. Through the cathartic act of creation, the end result is a series that embodies togetherness and celebration, while AOTH herself felt like a new person all over again—lighter, freer, and ready to conquer the year ahead. It was only in the act of honest feeling that she was able to process her previous struggles and start the year wishing everyone "恭喜发财 (gōng xǐ fā cái in Mandarin), prosperity and good fortune.”

These feng shui-heavy pieces reflect the struggle AOTH went through to reach a result that sparked joy: GLIMPSE OF US symbolizing yin energy and CELEBRATION symbolizing the yang. To create these works, AOTH leaned into the unpredictability of the art-making process, culminating in a CELEBRATION when the work is complete — not a happy accident, but the result of active introspection and enlightenment. A natural byproduct of introspection is the surfacing of buried memories, reflected in GLIMPSE OF US — the facing of feelings that had been buried for over a decade. In the end, art-making is an act of bravery. It’s facing one’s fears and sadness, one’s ups and downs, and letting oneself be swept up in the flow of the universe. We are fortunate AOTH allows us to embark on this journey alongside her.