An award-winning artist and art therapist from Melbourne’s west is harnessing the power of painting to help conquer the winter blues.
Xiang Li’s ‘100 Days ART YOU OKAY?,’ which will be displayed as part of the Positives and Negative Spaces exhibition in Altona from August 9 to 28, will showcase a selection of small pieces of art each centred around a positive mental health word.
Li, who also runs her art therapy practice at The Doctors Werribee working with adult clients who are experiencing personal hardship, will incorporate themes such as mindfulness, calm, hope and connection.
“The cold and shorter days of winter have been a challenge to many of us, both mentally and physically,” Li said.
“To manage this, I’ve been creating one small piece of art a day around a positive word. It is a way to stay grounded, reflect, and bring a little light into each day.”
Her artwork will feature alongside that of fellow artist and environmentalist, Ariel De Ramos, whose acrylic landscapes illustrate the importance of small, daily actions such as pausing for a while or painting can help achieve emotional balance.
“We wanted to create an experience that feels like sitting under a warm winter sun,” Li said.
“It’s not about making perfect art–It’s about finding small joys, relaxing and inspiring moments in life. It matters even just for a few minutes every day.”
As part of the exhibition at Louis Joel Gallery, Li will also run several workshops, encouraging people of all skill levels to create one mindful artwork a day this winter.
Details://www.ljac.com.au/about-louis-joel-gallery/
