Brenda Louie and Qinqin Liu - Echo Climate

On February 23rd, I had the opportunity of attending an artist lecture given by Brenda Louie and Qinqin Liu. The two artists hosted a lecture and exhibition at Sacramento State and shared with us their artistic process and inspirations. Their work relates to humanity's interconnectedness with the environment, climate, and biodiversity. The exhibition is available through March 16th in the University Union for those interested in visiting. 

Brenda Louie - Courtesy of https://www.brendalouie.com/

Brenda Louie was born in the Chinese province of Guangdong, and is a multidisciplinary artist currently based in California. Her work is a fusion of Eastern and Western culture, though her aim is to create work that speaks for the common experience interstitial identity. 

Brenda Louie, Oceanus No. 1 (2019)

Brenda Louie shared with us her inspiration for her "Water Essential Series" she created for this exhibit. The focus is on water, as water is a necessity for not only human survival, but it is also the origin of all life. In Daoist philosophy, water is a metaphor for "The Way," as it flows freely around obstacles. Brenda also shared that she is inspired by maps, cartography, and abstract expressionism, and all of these elements are visible within her work. 

I was struck by the complexity and flowing nature of her paintings, so I asked Brenda Louie more about her process. Specifically, as a painter myself, I was curious if Brenda plans out these complex compositions before creating the painting, or if it is improvisational. She said that she never plans out a painting; it is all improvisational. Like a map, she said her process is about finding the next step of the painting along the way. 

Qinqin Liu - Courtesy of sitkacenter.org

Qinqin Liu is an interdisciplinary artist, as well as an environmental scientist and biologist, currently working out of California. Her love for science, the environment, and botany is apparent in her work, as she is inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of Earth. Her work connects science with art, and also focuses on integrating Chinese calligraphy and design with Western styles of art. 
                           
Qinqin Liu, from the "Climate and Environment" series 

Qinqin Liu is often inspired by scientific data about earth and climate, and the artwork shown above is a representation of Earth. She explained to us that each circle represents the Earth and its climate. The blue circle represents our current climate. The red circle is what will happen to Earth if nothing is done about the increasing climate; it will become an unpleasant and potentially dangerous place to live. The green circle though, is what can happen if we can work together to reduce climate change: temperatures will still rise, but will be a much more comfortable and livable place to inhabit. Her work not only reflects the beauty of our planet, but also calls urgent attention to important issues that we face as a species. 

Both Brenda Louie and Qinqin Liu exhibit a unique fusion of Eastern and Western culture, and reflect the beauty of our environment within their work. Their work is a reminder of what is precious to all life: water, climate, and biodiversity, and calls attention to issues of climate change. I am grateful for the opportunity to hear them speak, and for their work to be shared with us here at Sacramento State!

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