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Thought-Provoking Golden Dot Paintings Meticulously Map “Islands of Emotions”

Artist Crystal Liu fills her dazzling compositions with beautiful flora and meticulously painted gold dots. The minuscule circles move through each piece like waves, creating a feeling of motion as they expand and contract in size. At times, their placement mimics tiny islands or clouds—especially when set against dark backdrops of blue and black watercolor paint. This motif is punctuated with Chrysanthemum flowers that are large enough to “rule” the abstracted scenes.

Liu’s paper works seemingly describe places, but to areas where we could never physically visit—intangible psychological and emotional landscapes. The imagery, rather than documenting real locales, are symbolic accounts of emotional states and personal relationships. Their visual power comes from within ourselves and the ease in which we can find special meaning in the beautiful-yet-nebulous settings.

Crystal Liu: Website | Instagram
via [Booooooom]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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