Voyage of Tek Sing

This painting commemorates the Chinese trading vessel, Tek Sing (True Star) as representing the maritime Silk Road. Unfortunately, she sank in 1822 and her cargo of Chinese export porcelain was scattered all across the sea floor.

How would I describe my art?
It has an emphasis on pattern and historical cultural fusion, with a decorative flair or style.

How do I decide what to paint?
It normally stems from research, but other times from serendipity. I might discover a historical style or culture that I haven’t seen before, but often I am inspired by documentaries, textiles, ceramics, history, or cultural mixing.

What does my work mean?
My work explores how cultural exchange has always happened. In each piece, the motifs I use will change, however, depending on the host culture.

I aim to draw attention to how we are all more closely related than we realise, and how forgotten fads in the past have informed our present. I am interested in what we owe our ancestors, by highlighting those things that should be remembered and perhaps are no longer valued as they should be.

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Michelle Jae Andrews is a Brisbane based artist whose work sits at the intersection of culture, time and modernity.

Michelle loves the aesthetics of old houses. She lives in a 100-year-old house, which is not old by European standards, but it has seen some history and has character. She loves the patinas of aged and peeling paint and wallpaper, the evidence of past colours and patterns. When she paints, Michelle imagines that she has wandered into an old chateau or manor house and discovered wonderful faded paintings on the walls. She tries to make my paintings look vintage and antique, rough around the edge and distressed. The patterns and flowers that populate these time-worn walls are inspired by Jacobean embroidery, 18th century chinoiserie and carpets and ceramics that might have been found along the Silk Road.