Childhood Memories, 1990

oil on canvas, 25 small paintings, 1 ft x 1 ft

This series of paintings was a  visual autobiography of my childhood up to the age of 14. All these small paintings have a special meaning related to my childhood.

  • The two hands symbolise my sister and I when we were small, how we would hold hands as we walked 3 km from the bus stop to our house.
  • The locks represent the lack of freedom during my childhood.
  • The paintbrush, drawer, and streak of paint represent my wish to just paint and do nothing else.
  • I was very fascinated by bees, hence the painting of the bee.
  • The fallen glass with the flowing water represents the panic this action created in my parents.
  • The head covered with newspaper symbolises that I was the daughter of a journalist who tapped his typewriter all night andkept her awake.
  • In all my paintings throughout my long life as an artist, birds represent freedom.

This group of paintings has been separated and bought by different people while some are still with me. It is important to note that the individual paintings spoke to people and gave meaning to their personal life and that it why they wished to buy them. That is why they were sold separately.

One of these works, the Big Paintbrush, was destroyed in a hurricane along with the house it was in.

I have also revisited my life using another medium, writing. I will publish an autobiography in the near future. The book covers the first 50 years of my life.

In the same category:

Prize winning oil painting made age 14, “Mei”, 1967

  • By
  • September 22nd, 1967

Chinese Watercolours Series, Age 16-18

  • By
  • September 22nd, 1970

The Wishing Window, 1973

  • By
  • December 13th, 1973

She’s a Leopard Too: Tapestry

My mother, who is a tapestry weaver, really liked this painting. She made a beautiful tapestry based on it that is just the same size as the original. It is included here.