And in some cases, the open mind itself is the source of that inspiration.
This was the case with local artist Cheong Kiet Cheng, 42, whose exhibition is the product of hours of meditation.
Titled “The Last Star Before the Dawn”, this is her fifth solo exhibition featuring a collection of nine paintings.
To describe the nature of her work is somewhat difficult, as they have a surreal feel that is best appreciated when one is physically standing before them.
They are far from abstract, yet they do not depict the physical world realistically either. Instead, they reflect the goings-on in the artist’s mind.
There is a spiritual theme to most of her paintings, with motifs of creation, balance and growth plucked straight out of religious stories.
Indeed, the artwork titled ‘The Last Star Before the Dawn’ features Buddhist elements, as evidenced by the haloed saints in the upper half of the painting.
The name itself refers to the morning star which Gautama Buddha saw disappearing right before he attained enlightenment.
Another piece, “Twins Flowers”, features the classic symbol of yin and yang, albeit represented by two mermaids; one male and one female.
It is a collection of artworks best appreciated by those familiar with theology and mythology. However, even if one is not acquainted with either, one can still admire the detail with which Cheong paints.
There is rarely any part of her canvas that goes untouched. Some details are easy to miss at a single glance, so take your time with each piece.
FMT had the opportunity to speak to Cheong at the launch of her exhibition and learnt more about the story behind her mind-bending works.
According to Cheong, as a child, she had never imagined herself as a professional artist.
Yet, “at that time, I really liked to draw. I was the kid in class who loved to draw the most. And if a classmate wanted a painting done, they’d go looking for me!”
Much of her childhood was spent reading fairy tales, with the illustrations often capturing her young imagination.
Cheong said her late father wasn’t supportive of her artistic ambitions initially, preferring that she become a designer or a bureaucrat instead – much like her sister who is a banker and her brother, an engineer.
However, she finally received his blessings when he attended her first solo exhibition, seeing for himself his daughter’s talent on public display.
On the exhibition’s theme, she said: “Once the last star of the night disappeared, Prince Siddhartha became the Buddha. When that happened, he let go of all worldly things and became enlightened.”
She said that while some of her artworks have Buddhist influences, she has read the holy books of other faiths extensively, drawing from them too.
Meditation is key to her art process. “I will switch on some soul music, pick up a pen and follow the lines that lay before me. Where the lines are, my eyes go. And after a while, an image starts to form.”
Unlike most artists, she doesn’t start with a draft. She starts work only once her mind is clear, and lets her hand guide her rather than the other way around.
While she mostly uses black and white for her paintings, she occasionally uses colour, to make her life less “boring”.
When asked if the lack of blank spaces in her artwork was deliberate, she said that she only fills them in with details if she deems it suitable.
“I’m not willing to fill in the whole painting for the sake of it. If I think it’s suitable for me to add something, I’ll add it in.”
Cheong added that most of the series was completed during a period of isolation, when her husband was working overseas.
“For days, months, years, I lived alone. It was a spiritual awakening, and painting was how I realised it,” she said.
“The Last Star Before the Dawn” runs until July 8. For more information, visit Wei-Ling Gallery’s website, or follow the gallery on Facebook and Instagram.
Wei-Ling Gallery
8, Jalan Scott
Brickfields
50470 Kuala Lumpur
Business hours: 10.00am-6.00pm; Tuesdays to Saturdays