Art for Wildlife (2019)

Ming Yeung

5300 No. 3 Rd. (Lansdowne Station)

Area: City Centre
Location: Art work no longer on display

This Artwork is no longer on display

Materials: Digital reproduction of watercolour and ink on rice paper.

Program: Unique Programs
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: Public Art Reserve

Description of Work

This series of traditional Chinese watercolour paintings depicts local wildlife, including monarch butterflies, bald eagles and salmon living harmoniously through the seasons in their natural environments. The work aims to raise awareness of species at risk for future generations.

Artist Statement

More and more animal species have been listed as endangered, threatened or vulnerable due to environmental changes, pollution and habitat loss. Artist Ming Yeung, is passionate about raising the awareness of endangered species and in 2018 created a series of watercolor Chinese paintings, 'Wildlife in the City'. Her intent is to spread the global message locally through her art and art activities.

The primary subject matter of Yeung's 'Wildlife in the City' paintings are Richmond's own fauna or animal species. Her artistic practice is traditional Chinese water colour and ink painting but with her own unique free style. Animals are created by applying three layers of watercolor paint within a single stroke to reveal the form. The technique requires precision and control to masterly depict the outline of great blue heron or whooping crane. Yeung must work with speed and control while adjusting the smooth-ness as well as the sharpness of the stroke. Each stroke is very deliberate and the absence of strokes within a painting or the creation of negative space is as important as the painted composition. The key desire of Yeung's free style approach is to bring to life the harmony, versatility, vividness and movement of her natural subjects.

Her desire is to create a deeper understanding publicly about the need to protect and maintain healthy ecosystems both globally and locally. Placing art within a city street scape to tell a story creates opportunities for viewers see, feel, think and ask social questions.