Indigenous Human Roots
Clay sculpture painting
16 x 12 x 3 inches
2024

Connecting humanity's heart, mind, and soul to art, nature and culture is my life’s journey. I am inspired with my ecology study of native and wild plant species and interactions with Indigenous culture. This clay sculpture painting with tree imprint was created for my social art practice to celebrate traditional ecology roots and culture of Indigenous people, and connect trees, human and biodiversity in nature. This clay sculpture painting opens our eyes to celebrate native people’s symbiotic life cycle with nature and earth, and calls for our actions to understand and preserve their traditional ecology roots in interdependent living world.

Root Symbiosis
Mixed media collage
2D
2021 —

My interdisciplinary art practice is inspired by my Ph. D botany and ecology study, and I enjoy my art accomplishments connecting humanity's heart and soul to nature. This art example depicts the relationship of root and mycorrhizal symbiosis under forest soils. My experimental art process enables me to translate invisible underground soils- mycorrhizal root symbiosis from my ecology study at University of California. Roots and soils were collected from mycorrhizal forest environment to create mixed media collage art work as part of my art residency project at Sitka art and ecology center in Oregon coast. Roots provide food for mycorrhizal growth and mycorrhizal fungi provide nutrients for forest development and soil organic network. This relationship is essential for ecosystem function. Contemporary art practice provides a powerful path to engage human emotional response and connect ecology with nature and diverse human culture.

Vulnerability Window
Mixed media collage
18 x 24 inches
2020

Vulnerability Window was created with mixed media collage on tissue paper and natural objects collected from burned branches, root and soils after fire in Yosemite watershed during the drought. This artwork reflects climate risk in watersheds based on my experience in environment art and science, and collaboration with model study of climate vulnerability from California Department of Water Resources. It highlights my deep concerns for the relationships of climate change with humans, trees, roots and soils in nature. Climate risk, drought and forest fire destroy balance in human and nature relationships. This artwork raises an urgent call for unified human actions before it is too late.