Ngā mihi to all those who Joined us for Cindy Leong’s artist led workshop on the 29th June 2024.

it was a therapeutic day of painting where we met at the intersection of abstract painting and philosophy.

Cindy shared with us insights into the philosophy she drew from, as well as how she used abstract painting to empirically test and practice these learnings.

We left all our thoughts, judgements, and ideas at the door and saw what happened when we allowed ourselves to paint from our subconscious. The workshop's focus was on process, which involved letting go of making something that we could already imagine, and instead, moving towards uncertainty.

—

Cindy Leong | b.1991 PGDipFA, University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau

In Ram Dass’s seminal work, ‘Be Here Now’, the author and spiritual teacher delves into the transformative power of meditation and contemplation in quieting the mind. In a similar vein, Leong’s process involves the act of repetitively putting brush to canvas as a means of distilling her mind and achieving a state of presence.

For Leong, Eastern philosophy and art making are deeply intertwined, with each offering a unique lens through which to explore the complexities of existence. Through her own artistic practice, Leong has found that the act of painting can serve as a conduit for navigating and exploring Buddhist concepts, allowing her to delve into their deeper truths in a visceral, experiential way.

Leong’s paintings become a site of inquiry and transformation, inviting the viewer to join her on the path of self-discovery and self-actualisation. With each stroke, Leong proposes that by cultivating a sense of equanimity, we can tap into a deeper level of consciousness and awareness that lies beyond the surface noise of our daily lives.