The waterways, marshes, and river deltas of Southeast Asia have long been a quiet thread through my work. Their shifting currents, rippling surfaces, and tidal rhythms are both meditative and elemental, always changing, always returning. These landscapes are the lifeblood of the region being swollen with monsoonal rains, nourishing its soils and fisheries, then retreating into months of thirst. In their movement and stillness, I find structure, rhythm, and a sense of belonging. It is this balance that draws me back to them again and again.

In this work consisting of 5352 lotus impressions, I explore these forms through shape, shading, and the delicate interplay of light. Highlights emerge within the imagined marshes, while ripples in open waterways create a subtle vibration across the surface. As with all my work, the piece begins with a blank sheet of paper, a fresh lotus flower, and ink made from temple-offered lotus petals. From a single impression of a cut lotus stem, the work expands into hundreds or thousands of marks.

The undulating patterns, a monochrome pointillism shaped by the structure of the lotus itself. These impressions shift in hue and intensity, forming a field that feels both embossed and atmospheric, a monochromatic rebirth of texture, shadow, and breath.

5352 was created upon my return to Cambodia after fleeing during COVID, a return to both place and practice and to the landscapes that continue to shape my art.

5352 lotus impressions

Lotus ink on paper
38″ x 21.25″    –    54 x 97 cm
Signature: signed on the front and back
un-framed