Mei: Daoli / 美：道理
2009-2010
This series of soufflage works, created in 2010, explores the fragile beauty of impermanence and the quiet power of unexpected moments.
Each piece captures a fleeting breath—literally and metaphorically—formed through the act of soufflage (blown ink or pigment), allowing air, chance, and instinct to shape the composition.
Featured in the Slant Wall Gallery at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, Mei: Daoli reflects on the philosophy that beauty often arises not from control, but from release—when we allow space for spontaneity, movement, and imperfection. It is a meditation on letting go, honoring process, and finding harmony in the unplanned.
This was my first ever gallery show, with my own space and my first ever series. I learned so much of the process from this. Not just the painting, but also with galleries, setting up, contacting, and really learning the ins and outs of the art world.
Mei: Daoli ~ 美：道理
Beauty: Reason
Mei: Daoli is a deeply personal series born from an exploration of beauty not as something passive or decorative, but as something that carries meaning, process, and presence. The name itself—美 (Mei, meaning “beauty”) and 道理 (Daoli, meaning “reason,” “truth,” or “underlying principle”)—reflects the heart of this body of work: a search for the reasons behind what we find beautiful and why it moves us. In these pieces, beauty is not just an outcome—it’s a process, a choice, and sometimes a question.
This series was created using a soufflage technique, where I guided the movement of ink and pigment by breath, air, and directional control rather than traditional brushwork. The result is organic, fluid, and abstract—each piece entirely unique, shaped by intentional chaos and meditative direction. I became deeply involved in the process, sometimes working in near silence, allowing intuition and motion to lead. Once the initial layers were complete, I encased them in resin, sealing in each gesture like a moment frozen in time. The resin brought out incredible dimension and depth—transforming what could’ve remained ephemeral into something permanent, almost jewel-like.
Mei: Daoli was also the first series I ever showcased in my own solo space. The exhibit was held at the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center—an experience that meant the world to me. I didn’t just grow as an artist; I learned the ins and outs of hosting a gallery show: from curating and preparing artwork, to installing, promoting, and engaging with the public. It was both overwhelming and affirming. I poured myself into every detail, and it taught me not just how to be an artist—but how to share my art with the world.
This series was comprised of over 200 original pieces in six different sizes—ranging from small 4" x 4" works to large 2' x 4' panels. Every single one was unique. No two are ever the same. The spontaneity of soufflage ensures that even if I tried, I couldn’t recreate a piece. Many of these works have since sold to private collectors, and I’ve kept a few for myself—some for their emotional significance, others simply because they continue to speak to me. This collection stands as a milestone in my journey—a moment of artistic clarity, freedom, and becoming.
