Virtual Reality

Title of Artwork: Virtual/Reality

colours of the bible facebook contest 2017

Medium of artwork: acrylic/mixed media

Description: This world is not our real home. In reality, there is a cosmic battle in epic proportion that spans in time immemorial. And in the centre of the battle, it involves His family- starting from Adam and Eve then to every believing husband and wife ( and their children). However, He has already won the battle and is constantly fighting for us. Sometimes, it may look like a losing battle but that is just illusion- for we live in a virtual world. 

Process: The conception of the drawing came 2 years before the competition(2017). I was resting by the pool and looking at the deck chairs by the pool side. There I imagine a family sitting by the pool. As I looked at the pool and imagined the images that fell on the water, I wondered about its reflection. Imagine we are the reflection and the reality is above the pool. Then I put in the spiritual element and before me stood a complete picture- the cosmic battle fell before my eyes and it left a lasting impression in my mind.

Originally, it is our family by the pool. However, due to the theme in the competition, I have to change to people in the bible times. To think I had already staged the presentation by getting my family to pose by the pool.

So as I drew the characters on paper, I had to research different postures and pictures to find a suitable fit. Son used photoshop to put everything into right perspective. The research was grueling and most torturous (a few weeks). The process of drawing was also tough as I am not trained in any art school. I left it incomplete and left for Japan for a 2 week vacation. When I was back, the painting process was fast - 3 days as I need to complete it before the due date. It was the most satisfying and exhilerating as, from past experience, I can never expect how it turns out. Many surprises and spiritual experiences.

1) I finished painting Jesus 1st day- when I viewed it the next day, I seemed to sense a voice saying `Are you painting Jesus with your head or with your heart? I kind of add layers and laces on Him instinctively. (I peeled it away later and left only partly layered) The point is- I enjoyed the whole process, giving much attention to Jesus. It also led me to add 3D elements to the drawing as well. I was excited when I realised that virtual world is 2D and real world is 3D. Blow my mind wonderment- what if our world is 3D, the spiritual world is 4D(not toto), 5D etc etc ?  (watch chuck missler's video https://youtu.be/Nv_lVU7Fwpo

warning!! It is 2 hours long) 

I added a golden outline around Jesus as the finishing touch for my beloved Jesus- like finishing a dish of ice cream dessert after a satisfying main course dinner in a posh restaurant.

2) The boy was added as an after thought, adam and eve puppet were added even after that. Like God is guiding me to complete the picture. I had no idea of adding them as these details were not in my original idea. It seems like completing the loop to the write up that I wrote for the competition- What is bizarre is that I wrote that before I researched and put all on paper. In fact I wrote that with just only the conceptualized vague idea in my head. In order words, I wrote that with no visual image of the concept in my head.

3) I completed most of it on the 2nd day and called all my experts to critique it. Actually it was only one- my gal. She said the water seemed too cartoony and slipshod. As I started to improve it, I accidentally added too much blue on one spot and had to cover the rest of the water area with that blue. The mistake turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was grappling with my own carelessness in my life. and it reminds me of the verse: 2 Cor 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

4) There is even a mysterious element in the drawing which I can't explain. It was the butterflies I put in for no apparent reason as my girl just bought some stencil. I don't really know what it means to me. Hmmmm.... we shall see.

So the process was indeed an enriching spiritual journey for myself. 

Some feedback -

Good use of Colours- contrast of dark and bright to highlight theological truths 

The gestures and positions - particularly who each person in pictures faces is significant and strategic! Says a lot just looking at it.

The use of collage is great - striking yet not intrusive! So clever and so appropriate! 


A lovely piece of work. A huge applause for you!
也发现到，水的倒影，没看到耶稣和魔鬼。
可能水的倒影，就是我们活着/看的见的世界，
而水上的世界，就是属灵世界吧。

我是这样解读。