In our very first issue of Gallery36, Autumn 2009, we featured Auckland artist Sin-Mae Chung. Here is an update of what she has been up to lately:

During this past year and half since graduation took place (in the merry little Town hall of Auckland one November day), I have been in deep and serious thought about myself, my future, and art practice. Choosing to not jump into a post-graduate degree immediately after my bachelors was a scary thought, but it proved to have benefitted, not in a reason of relaxation and break from study, but in experience and re-learning about myself and art.

Having to subtract the protective walls of a creative institution, along with the help and guidance of those whom share the same passion was one of the main difficulties I faced, and it has taken a toll on my art making. Reflection and Re-learning about myself, and who I am in a big pool of creative big-boys was a difficult challenge. To me, it meant taking what I learnt and putting it into reality. The training wheels are off, and I am to ride my bike all the way to the other end without falling off. But what do I do when I fall off? The thought of art making has become like that, sad to say, I felt the pressure, I felt the expectations and the need and hurry in succeeding. What ever it was, I definitely felt it. Just who was I in art school? Would that take me far in real life? And who am I now? What do I want to achieve now? All questions and a lot of answering to do, fortunately it hasn’t put me off entirely.

Despite getting through hurtles and a crazed mission of re-discovery. I had my friends, my art buddies, and strong minded and hard working people. Together with some of them I am in an amazing group called Crossover. Being a part of creating an emerging art collective and getting to meet, support and develop friendships with those of the creative community has meant a lot to me. I am glad to say, that through missions like these, I have at least kept art alive through keeping myself within that environment. This year, after having Crossover established for a little over a year now. I have met amazing people like Cleo Barnett of First Thursdays, Renee Laing, and Suzette Meyer just to name a few.

So where to now? I definitely am seeking, still seeking and surely will find that conclusion one day, but as they say, life long and is a whole heap of learning till you die. Lately I have learnt that there is no hurry to getting into art and making it famous instantly, so surely I shall aim to let this pressure die and get back into making peacefully. I will find my own voice, my own style, my way of art, and my own way of letting others see, know or learn of me. But first, I aim to complete my post-graduate degree, and finish those projects and commissions I have stacked up in my journal. Hopefully you all will see a better update of my life story as a new-born baby (mildly independent) artist, and by then I will have a better story to tell.

Sin-Mae Chung
Artist / Crossover Pioneer
Mob: 021 0749809
Email: mae.mc@xtra.co.nz
www.crossover.org.nz