About
Artist
Hi, my name is Kiki (he/him/his) and I'm the visual artist behind Introspective Arts.
As a Trans, Cantonese Chinese and Jesus-following artist, I enjoy being a part of these diverse communities and weaving often complicated but beautiful threads between them. I am based in Gadigal / Inner West Sydney and Meanjin / Brisbane.
I love creating illustrations, paintings and installations using pencil, charcoal, ink and acrylic paint but I am always looking to explore new mediums and ways of creating.
Why 'Introspective'?
Introspective is an adjective that describes someone who examines and considers their own ideas, thoughts, and feelings ¹. It is characterised by introspection, the act or process of looking into oneself ².
I chose the name because I think it describes who I am as a person and an artist. As a devout introvert I enjoy thinking deeply about the world and trying to understand it through the lens of myself. As an artist I try to represent this in the artwork that I create.
Why the heart and gold?
The anatomical heart in the logo is a recurring theme in my artwork and is a motif from a previous art exhibition group. It resonates with me as it is a play on the representation of the heart in popular culture verses the real heart organ itself. The cultural symbol is a very simplified, 'glossy' and clean shape commonly used to represent love, emotions and health but in reality the actual heart is wonderfully complex, gory and messy, which I think is closer to the reality of what it represents.
The gold in the logo and colour scheme represents the gold leaf I often use in my work.
Designer
I also work as a freelance Graphic, Web and Motion Designer for my business Kiki Agency. I love incorporating design principles into my art.