Chua Ek Kay was first inspired to paint the subject of lotuses during his time spent studying in Australia in the early 1990s. Chua was captivated by the constant shifting of shadows and reflections that could be observed over the course of a day by the lotus pond. His treatment of the lotus subject demonstrates a turn towards contemporary expression within the context and medium of traditional Chinese ink practice. This work exemplifies Chua’s re-invention of the lotus subject, a traditional symbol of purity within Chinese culture, and an established motif within traditional Chinese ink painting. Chua’s lotuses express references to modern and minimalist aesthetic sensibilities through an elegant simplification of form. Executed with a confidence and lightness of touch, works from the Lotus series, are characterized by an attention compositional harmony and the rhythmic re-assembling of the signifiers of the lotus pond.
