Acrylic and pen on canvas.
14x20"
The boy, who stands outside the frame, turned 18 in 2023. He’s looking at the scene of himself playing with his friend in their childhood. That scene is spotlighted by the red lantern, which symbolizes the Chinese New Year. Here I juxtapose the 18-year-old boy with his younger self to demonstrate the elapse of time. As a mother, I feel sentimental about the passing of time without realizing it until I put the adult son into this painting with his childhood self. We don’t feel the passing of time until we see the growth of our children. At the right corner of the painting, I put a poem- "Despite being away half of your lifetime, wish you still have a young heart when you return." by a well-known poet of the Song Dynasty， Su Shi, as an expression of a mother's wish, hoping he will stay young at heart when he reaches middle age.
Haocun(Sandra) Cao is originally from Shanghai, China. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources and worked in HR for seven years until November 2017, when her life took an unexpected turn. She found solace in painting after the sudden passing of her mother, using it as a powerful form of therapy and self-expression. In 2022, she began the Fine Arts Studio program at Centennial College, graduating with honors in 2024. Now pursuing a degree in Drawing and Painting at OCAD University, her work reflects a woman’s perspective and emotional response to life themes such as change and loss, exploring cultural integration and relationships.
In 2023, Sandra worked as an art instructor for summer camps organized by the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada and an after-school program at an elementary school. Previously, she worked for the Provincial Government in New Brunswick and multinational companies in Shanghai, China such as Christian Dior, Sanofi Pharmaceuticals and Qiming Venture Partners, etc.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Creating art became a therapeutic outlet for me during the pandemic, gradually transforming into a profound passion. My works draw inspiration from personal experiences, including significant relationship changes and travels. I explore themes of change and relationships, focusing on the emotional responses from a woman’s perspective. Through my art, I reflect on these multifaceted changes, expressing my emotions and inviting viewers to connect with their own journeys.
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