The use of symbolism, metaphor and subtle humour are integral to my artistic expression. Thus far, I have focused on exploring the symbolism of the black dog, a symbol that I find fascinating for the complicated and conflicting layers of meaning that it carries for me. There is the black dog as a metaphor for depression, a metaphorical frame introduced to me in a pamphlet at the doctor’s clinic; then, the black dog – the actual, living, breathing companion, who greets me when I get home; and also, the black "dogs", that each take me weeks and weeks to knead and shape into being, a lesson in patience. Each incarnation of the black dog builds onto the contradiction, bringing no clarity; it is precisely this ambiguity that allows me to attach yet another layer of meaning to the symbol of the black dog – as a placeholder for the “self”, which I do not understand any better
Ping (b. Kuala Lumpur, 1995) is a multi-disciplinary artist from Malaysia who earned her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from The One Academy, Kuala Lumpur.
Working primarily with sculpture, painting and new media, she draws upon symbolism and subtle humour, to examine the themes of thoughts, expectations and other hidden intangibles that create the contours of our subjective experiences. Her creations often involve the hybrid interplay of 2D and 3D elements that explore the tension between the immaterial and the visible world.
Her most recent body of work challenges the boundaries of representation. She takes inspiration from the colloquialism, "Do you see what I mean?", in order to physically and metaphorically materialise abstract thoughts.This fascination traces back to her background in accounting and finance, where she observed how precise numbers can mold perceptions and transform ambiguous situations into concrete realities.
In 2022, she received the accolade for Best 13 Artists in the Malaysian Emerging Artist Award. She has also participated in several group exhibitions including Ways of Seeing and Realpolitik at Cult Gallery as well as G13@13 at G13 Gallery. Ping holds a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Melbourne and a Diploma of Fine Arts from The One Academy.