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Image 2 of 3
Image 3 of 3
About
These 2 paintings marked the beginning of Hwee Chieh’s 5 months journey into the unknown:
oil painting. Aware of oil painting’s enduring prestige, she has now made it her next pursuit.
Eager for another taste of excellence, she painted mastery 1 and 2 in a landscape oil painting class. Excitement was soon met with setbacks, as she quickly realised how her past habits hindered this unfamiliar process. Her self-image under threat, she wrestled with her past self, soothing voices that told her to revert to her old habits, whispering, “Stick to what you know”, as a way to preserve her identity as a competent artist. She is once again reminded of the many times in her life that she advanced but stalled, moved forward then backwards. Stubborn and relentless, she refuses to submit, successfully completing mastery 1 and 2 using a different method.
Mastery depends largely on deliberate practice, while often uncomfortable, yet profoundly rewarding. The alluring sound of comfort, while familiar and soothing, can sometimes be a shackle. Hwee Chieh seeks to understand these intricacies, in ways unique to her.
—written by Zack Chua