Jin's Art - About Me

Shuxiang Jin Farrall

As a child, growing up in China, I accompanied my grandfather in the gathering and study of mushrooms, mushrooms of many species which I learnt about and which later became my metaphysical muse in my work on paper. The dreams and memories formed by those mushrooms now re-emerge in my work.

The growth habits of mushrooms and their nature are the influences, both emotional and visual, which feed my expressionist approach to portraying my subject. My observation and empathy with mushrooms developing sometimes in a community, growing and living together, sheltering and protecting each other, nestling against each other are contrasted with those living a solitary, exposed existence. Species living simply and quietly, others flamboyantly and dangerously are emotive for the artist and emerge in her work. The mushroom's short life, appearing and disappearing with joy and sadness, and the simplicity of form humanized are shown in the treatment of my ever varying subject.

I was born in China in 1950 and lived there until 1990 when I came to London to study. I gained a BA in Fine Art in 2000 at University of East London and then went on to do a Masters Degree in printmaking at University of Arts London - Camberwell College of Arts, London. I lives in south-east London with my British husband and am now based permanently in the UK. My prints are made at Artichoke Print Workshop, Brixton, London and London Print Studio, Harrow Road, London.

I have exhibited work at many exhibitions in London and around the world, including South Korea, Austria, India, and Japan.

The current images in my work come from the memories of my childhood. The forms in the prints have evolved from mushrooms and nature. I want to communicate with mushrooms through abstract styles and appearances and to present them as living beings with feelings and thoughts. I strive to do this in a way that is new and refreshing. I am interested in mushrooms as they always recreate many happy, secret memories and dreams from my childhood and my past. Much of the content of my recollections are of when my Grandfather took me to see and gather mushrooms in the fields near our home in China. I relate to mushrooms and let them represent me in my work. I admire the way they live together in groups, I like their care, sympathy, shyness and quietness, the way they caress each other.

Dealing through simple forms with deep feelings and utilising images in large spaces, yet at the same time within these taking small mushrooms to generate huge memories. The mushrooms are always moving, they are ever changing, large and small, happy and sad, weak and strong, full and empty in the space of my memories. So I treat them with soft, sharp and occasionally hard images but they are always moving.

I wish to thank Stuart Etheridge who has given me great encouragement and help regarding this website and Jon Lewis and Maureen Pitcher who have designed and set up this website. Also I would like to thank my husband, Peter, who has given me encouragement and support in my art studies.