Novi Lim

Secret Garden

2021

I found my most true and liberated self in exploring the beauty of ambiguity. I like to capture the essence and subtle elements of the natural world, water, air, particles, energy, space -- giving the viewers the freedom of interpretation or creating their own narrative if they choose to do so. For me, art is a therapeutic way to drift into an imaginary land where I can set expressions free and let go of my subconscious through tactile movements and the fascinating play of color, texture, and natural chemistry that happens between mediums. I enjoy the flow of motion that comes instinctually and the layering process that is delicate. It's important for me to retain a spontaneous quality. Sometimes, I want to evoke the noir mood of melancholy, strength, opulence, and nostalgia in my paintings. Often, imagining a mythical flower that blooms and lit up in the nighttime, or seeing something as simple as the calming gradient of the colorful sky at sundown, or the surface of water that glimmers which makes me wonder about the mystery of the deepest oceans -- piqued my creative process and subliminal stimuli. At the core, I am more interested in the sensorial and experiential aspects of feelings and processes. It is a collaborative event of constructing my vision and letting go of inhibition in the pursuit of balance and harmony. Adding my own markings or oriental elements is something that's embedded in my identity and muscle memory. Working with acrylics, immediacy is an important factor, I also enjoy line work and atmospheric use of light and dark.