Original Art Piece

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 holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management and worked in the field of HR for over seven years until November 2017, when her life took an unexpected turn. The sudden passing of her mother deeply affected her, leading her to reassess her life and career.
Several months later, Sandra saw some paintings displayed in an art studio accidentally, which ignited a spark within her. Feeling rejuvenated, she decided to learn how to paint and draw. She pursued this newfound passion by enrolling in the Fine Arts Studio program at Centennial College, where she studied from September 2022 to June 2024. In March 2024, she was accepted into OCAD University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Drawing and Painting, where she will continue her studies in the fall of 2024.

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, and it has evolved into a profound passion over time. My inspiration springs from personal life experiences, including significant relationship changes and travels. My work primarily explores themes of change and relationships, delving into the emotional reactions from a woman’s perspective.

I am particularly captivated by how women navigate life's transformations, such as the loss of a family member, the end of an intimate relationship, and the complex interplay between self, others, nature, time, and religion. Through my art, I express my reflections and emotions on these multifaceted changes and relationships, offering a glimpse into my inner world and inviting viewers to connect with their own experiences.