Maisie Luo

Artist statement

My paintings, installations, and painted animations address humans’ relationships with animals and the environment. I adopt images, mythological stories, and symbols from Chinese papercutting traditions, Tibetan Buddhism, as well as everyday signs and icons, to explore how images and narratives, as well as the relevant, refreshing and nuanced ethical views they carry, can invite people to reexamine these urgent global issues. 

For instance, images from Chinese papercutting traditions sprout from the local villagers’ everyday life. They represent local people’s reciprocal and respectful relationship with animals and the environment, rather than treating them as mere resources for humans. Engaging with papercutting as a living tradition, I incorporate folklore and paper-cutting images to retell the state of animals and the environment of my surroundings. For example, in Chinese paper-cutting traditions, cattle symbolize harmony and auspiciousness. When I paint cattle in US factory farms using a paper-cutting style, the image itself embeds a wish for more harmony between humans and cattle. I also infuse visions of animal liberation and environmental restoration into my work. Symbols of protection from Tibetan Buddhism, such as the conch and the parasol, are dedicated to my subjects and are my prayers for them. 

My art practice is influenced by Buddhist teachings about striving for the welfare of all living beings. Along with painting, I experiment with painted animation, installation, and public performance art, such as my painting walkout series, to invite a wider range of people to discuss climate change and animal welfare. My ultimate hope is that these visions and discussions will sow the seeds of multispecies flourishing.