Artist Statement

Cheong-Jagerroos Tong U (Canal)

Helsinki / November 2007

In one way I believe a painting should not have boundaries or nationalities, but in another way I find it bizarre because painting is always the image of its own environment; it reflects the artist culture, the artist past and the artist present.

Inspiration is a MUST for me when I paint, or when I start new painting. During the procedure of the painting that I would avoid watching or hearing any news, avoid reading newspaper and avoid watching TV. I can only paint when I am purely calm and I am in my own imaginary lyric world. I usually get inspiration by learning the ancient philosophical thought, by reading a beautiful poem, by watching the sky, by feeling the gentle wind, by walking in the forest, and by seeing how people doing things differently in different countries….I could get inspiration anytime when the moment move me. I find getting inspiration is the most beautiful moment and with that I try to depict and share it with the public.

I love to paint paintings on rice paper with Chinese ink and colours. I can feel the raw material and my thought unconsciously bland together in a harmonizing tune. However, inspiration stimulates my thought and the materials work with their magic.

I strongly believe a painting is not only a painting; it is a message one wish to share; it is a poem, it is a song and it is a mirror which reminds us who we are….