Imminence
gouache paintings by Matthew Felix Sun
Whirl © Mathew Felix Sun, gouache on paper, 9”x12”, 2021.
February 11–March 25, 2022
The pieces presented in this gallery are gouache paintings I have made since early 2020. These paintings, ranging from purely abstract to semi-representational are moderate in scale, and each offers a small sliver of life, while in the aggregate they reflect a multifaceted and more comprehensive way of being and seeing, as in a collage or mosaic. These paintings serve as narrow viewfinders that open onto a broader world.
Painted under the shadow of the pandemic, and so, inevitably, with a dark undertone, these works reach beyond direct or simplistic reactions to the challenging time we have been experiencing, covering broader emotions including doubt, obtuseness, distraction, longing, and hope that a brighter world is imminent.
Instead of verisimilitude, I strive to discover and capture what is hidden, emphasizing the implicit and the unspoken in my paintings. My tendency to seek the unspoken can be traced to my years growing up in repressive China, where much is hinted at, but rarely spoken aloud. This experience sharpened my awareness of the invisible burdens borne by people everywhere, and my ability to discern what is hidden or disguised.
I have been developing my craft since childhood, and began to express myself through art more seriously after relocating to the US in my early twenties.
My work has been published by art reviews including Artistonish, Artist Portfolio, Wilde Magazine, and William and Mary Review; and included in recently published collections: East Bay Artist (2021), and Artists of the Bay Area (2022). Awards include Artistic Excellence, Editors Choice, and Honorable Mentions from art review magazines and art competition jurors.
My work has been selected for exhibition in cities including San Francisco, New York, and Seattle, and my paintings are collected in the US, Canada, the UK, and China.