Artist Chitchat with Flora Chan.

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Irene gets to ask the only fibre artist featured in this exhibition, Flora, about her art journey. 

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Q. How long have you been creating art? Did you start with tapestry?

I’ve always been creative since I was a child so I’d be making art or doing craft whenever an idea or inspiration hits me. I was always appointed class artist in school because I could draw. But tapestry is a recent thing. I was already exploring it on my own in mid-2018. Honestly, I was just trying to find other ways to use up my yarn because I had elbow tendonitis from knitting.

 

Q. Do you have an artist statement?

I do have one on the FB page for my label Blissappointed. 

For art in general, I’m basically translating the sublime into bite size portions and turning them into tangible encounters for others.

 

Q. I realised you also paint. How is that different in terms of the creative process?

In terms of composition, you apply the same principles you would in painting and drawing but in terms of creating the work itself, it is different because tapestry can be 3D and you may need to build the structure to create the dimensional aspect for your composition. So that means you also need to think like an architect and engineer which is fun and challenging.
 

When I first started, I would get stuck because I didn’t have enough understanding so I experimented a lot until I found a solution for what I had in mind. There are at least two pieces of work that I didn’t touch for two years which are recently completed because I finally knew what to do with them. 
 

The other challenge is finding the right colours. In painting, you can simply create your own colours from your paints but when you are using commercially produced yarn, you are totally at the mercy of the yarn supply retailers unless you dye your own yarns which is also adding more steps to the process. 

 

Q. I love the way you play with colours and the imagination throughout your work. Do they reflect your physical and spiritual life?

My imagination drives most of what I produce and I love colours. I get high on colours. Ironically, I had a mostly black wardrobe growing up and it’s only in the last ten years or so that I felt comfortable wearing brighter colours. I think it has to do with growing up in my identity in Christ and discarding the false selves I’ve created as a result of false expectations from others and myself. However, I’m in a different place when I am creating and the bliss affects my art more than anything else.

 

Q. I have come across artists who don’t have supportive spouses when it comes to their pursuit of art as a career. What words of encouragement can you give to artists struggling in this area?

While I am very thankful that I’ve an extremely patient and supportive husband, the onus is on you to prove that you are worthy of your calling and provide the fruit for that. Nobody else can do that for you. If you aren’t convinced that this is your path, then no amount of encouragement or support can keep you going. But if you know that being an artist is the calling on your life, I believe no difficulty - be that in finance, time or ability - will keep you away from it. 

 

You need to live for the approval of your Creator. My husband is the one who went to art school while I am largely unschooled in sketching and painting until recent years when I finally had the means to take classes every now and then to fill in the gaps. He doesn’t love bomb me so when he is impressed by my work, I know I’m hitting the mark somewhat but I keep at my craft whether he acknowledges it or not. You need to keep going even when nobody cares. Because God will give you the grace to walk in what He has called you. Be faithful to the task.