Golden Cicada
(2005)
Mixed Media on Canvas
36” by 48”

Faces
(2005)
Mixed Media on Canvas
36” by 48”

A Parody of Marriage
(2006)
Mixed Media on Canvas
20" by 20"

Our flat in London had blue wall-to-wall carpeting until extensive renovations in 2003. Toddler handprints of Jacob, our son, on an old canvas sparked the idea to recycle it by creating a collage using finds from many trips to Asia and European flea markets. (I had painted the original canvas to complement our blue carpet, and accented it with a solitary gold cicada from Provence.) My drawer of scraps-too-beautiful-to-throw-out yielded intricate rice paper cut-outs, small antique Japanese bronzes, tattered bills with Uncle Ho and Angkor Wat, and brochures featuring beautiful but out-of-budget contemporary Chinese art. To finish it, I made three latex impressions from an antique mooncake mould. We hung “Golden Cicada” in our renovated flat – happy with the memories, colors and textures captured.

Shortly after, a friend commissioned “exactly the same” for her new home. After much nagging and her promise of an exhibit targeted at women in our field of structured finance in London, I created “Faces” for her. The exhibit did not happen for a variety of reasons, but my proud husband and son would show any curious guests my work; sold a few this way. Jacob, our son, cut a deal to receive 5% of proceeds for co-signing and helping me name my pieces. My work was also carried by a small art gallery in Hampstead, Perrins Art Gallery.

Jacob, now 12, names my collages and you will find his fingerprints discreetly on my work, although his hands are much larger. “Golden Cicada” understandably continues to be my favorite creation. We have lived in Asia since 2006 but my passion for things Asian – and for shopping – remains strong.