Huaqi Liu

Lives and works in 221 bergen st, Harrison, NJ, USA

Artist statement

Artist Statement Surprisingly and poetically, the Chinese character for “destiny” contains the character for “cloud” within it. This curious association between two things that at first appear utterly different suggests a beautiful analogy. “Cloud” becomes a metonym for “destiny,” encoding the abstract, philosophical notion in a concrete, experiential image. As destiny is determined by multiple unseen forces, the lives of clouds are guided by the wind and all the vast, invisible phenomena of climate and weather. Liu's oil paintings depict the dynamics, textures, and spaces of clouds through different movements, media, and sizes. The manner and existence of abstract cloud formations are determined by the combination of surrounding atmospheric elements. Clouds do not have fixed shapes or colors; their mutability reflects the different meanings assigned to them by people with different individual histories and cultures. Having grown up with a Chinese cultural background, Liu views clouds as the best explanation for destiny, representing a spiritual aura within the universe and nature.

Artwork