Artist Chitchat with Irene Wong.
 

We caught up with veteran artist, Irene, who has created a platform to showcase faith artists since 2016. I've dubbed her the Lion Queen as she has painted numerous lions.
 

Q.The last exhibition that you had organised was cancelled due to the pandemic. How has the last two years affected you as an artist and your vision to promote faith artists?

The pandemic didn’t affect me or my vision. While we couldn’t carry on with a physical art exhibition in 2020, we switched plans by having a virtual exhibition instead. The only drawback of going virtual was not being able to have face-to-face interactions between artists and visitors or the in-person engagement with our art.

As an artist, I’ve been using social media to promote my art all these years. So cancelling the exhibition didn't affect me directly. But as an art teacher, the lockdown affected my income as I teach art from home. Moreover, my mom’s deteriorating health during that time also impacted my time and focus. It was very challenging for me.
 

Q. What do you hope to achieve for this year’s exhibition?

The objective has always been the same. Firstly, to walk and encourage faith artists in their art journey. Secondly, to walk with God in our craft and lastly, to reveal and share His promises through our art.
 

Q. Is there a reason why you chose the theme Behold?

We have a different theme for every exhibition depicting the spiritual season for that time. For 2022, the theme ‘BEHOLD’ encourages us to hold on to our faith and our Creator in the midst of chaos and challenges.
 

Q. You are very fond of painting lions. Tell us why?

Many years back, I attended a teaching on the book of Revelation. Revelation 5:5 “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” resonated deeply with my faith.

In 2014, I organised an exhibition called ‘The gathering of the Lions’. I invited some of my students and friends to participate and celebrate Singapore’s Jubilee with 49 lion paintings. Since then, I have not stopped painting lions. I’m at rest and connected with Him whenever I paint or draw lions.
 

Q. How do people respond to your lion paintings?

 It has changed over the years. I’ve painted many lions over the span of 14 years. When I first started, some people loved it but others prefer a painting of a lamb or a lion with a lamb. When I progressed to painting roaring lions, I received some negative reactions as many churchgoers prefer a quiet or authoritative looking lion to a roaring one. In recent years, people have become more receptive to roaring lions due to the frequent use of the roaring lion of Judah as an imagery in worship music and teaching.
 

Q. What can we expect to see from your work this time around? Is there a connecting theme or motif that we can look out for in your art?

I will be presenting some works of art in acrylic ink, which is a new medium for me. I love the bold colours and the fluidity of acrylic ink when used with water.