For artist Joy Luk Pat, her first solo exhibition, Wealth and Happiness, is a celebration of everything around and within us including nature, our environment, and talents.
“The underlying quest for wealth and happiness is to enjoy the benefits of freedom. When I think about freedom it’s the freedom to be authentic, to be able to transform lives in some way, the freedom to have the opportunity to be a warrior for the world.
“It’s the abundance and beauty around us. It’s looking at nature in its glory. It’s about being touched by the sweet music of our steelpan and seeing the traditions of our ancestors integrated into our lives. It’s about celebrating the gifts we have.”
This appreciation starts with a person’s mind set. She encourages individuals to ignore the negative things others may say, find their talent or medium of expression and enhance it.
“I invite everyone to shift their mind set from what society has set for them – that you must have a house, you must live according to the rules, you must have children, you must have a car – whatever it is. Do what is right for yourself. Do what you are called to do.”
[caption id="attachment_961773" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Freedom is one of the 50 paintings on display at the Wealth and Happiness exhibition. -[/caption]
She said a person has to first have happiness before they can inspire or make an impact on their world. Whether that world includes one person or 100, they can be a blessing to and make a difference in the lives of those in that world.
However, she said this cannot be achieved if the individual is not doing something they love. And there must be a balance between doing what you love and financial responsibilities.
“The show is a challenge to discover what makes you happy and wealthy inside yourself in your own world. When you find that inside yourself, you are able to impact one person, a group of people, and eventually the world because there are ripple effects to people’s actions.”
The exhibition comprises 50 mixed-media pieces created over the last two years.
Luk Pat said she enjoys the depth and texture mixed media brings. In her opinion, it brings art to life and invites people to interact with it. She believes if people want to touch a piece, it means they feel connected to it in some way. She also likes to use metallic paints because it is a “playful way” to offer a new perspective.
Both elements allow the viewer to see something different in different lights and angles.
“Art isn’t just about looking pretty on a wall. It’s about invoking something. It means I as an artist have made an emotional connection with them, that they have seen the message in it.
“Art heals both the artist and the viewer. I think that’s part of the role of artists – to bring some sort of joy and light to people.”
She said the pandemic was very transformative for her as she made a conscious decision to remain positive. In an effort to continue to do so, she reads a lot, listens to podcasts, and generally focusses on personal and spiritu
