The Brush and the Earth
Lai Chee-Ying began working on the piece titled May, 2008 following a visit to Sichuan, China. The initial intention was to capture a moment of daily life in that region, focusing on children who had set aside their school books to use work tools instead. This focus on the reality of labor and childhood changed when news of the Sichuan Earthquake reached her.
The palette shifted as the weight of the event settled in. What might have been glowing orange-reds became a heavier, more somber selection of colors. Through these changes in tone, she sought to express commiseration for those lost and to offer prayers for the survivors, hoping they would find the strength to continue.
Recognition and Collections
The work May, 2008 is held within the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Her paintings have also been included in the collections of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Simon Suen Foundation Limited.
- Hong Kong Museum of Art
- Legislative Council, Hong Kong SAR
- Simon Suen Foundation Limited
