Mother

Mother is the origin of our existence.

Inspired by Carl Jung’s interpretation of a mandala representing a mother’s womb - this composition is the vision of the earliest stages of conception when one is encapsulated by a gravityless, blood-filled universe.  

The central spiral symbolises the infinity of motherhood. Just as the spiral extends endlessly inward and outward, motherhood is a lifelong journey, not a single moment. Life itself is an infinite phenomenon, owing its existence to the unbroken lineage of mothers across the ages.

 The four white balls at each corner are Jewels in Tibetan Thangka paintings - an offering to holy beings. They symbolise respect/ an offering to all mothers. The pink lines along the edge and inside each small circle along the circumference are like fireworks: celebrating life with synchronised explosions, which are wild, unexpected, and at the same time brilliant. 

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Sacred geometry is the study of spiritual meaning in various spatial arrangements. In the concentric structure of mandalas, the circle represents the wholeness of an individual - the self, and the square represents the Cartesian dimensions, or one’s surrounding. The mandala describes the awareness of how we, as conscious beings, relate to our cosmos, our world. 

Jacqueline Shiu uses Chinese classical, Tibetan Thangka, & French art nouveau motifs in her paintings to illustrate the truth, the good, and the beautiful. Geometric proportions & symmetry express dignity, righteousness, and order; organic lines & shapes embody the complexity and depth of human emotions; detail & intricacy reflect human dedication and perseverance; and flowers are symbolic of grace and perfection.