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Created two years apart, these carved woodblocks were eventually united as Jñāna. They are now featured in the group exhibition, 'Within Heaven and Earth' at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.
Drawing upon spirituality and rituals in search of renewal and healing, the artists in 'Within Heaven and Earth' were invited to share a multi-dimensional storytelling approach to explore personal identity and cultural memory.
I was delighted to receive a commission to create 'Guan Yin: Revered Perceiver of Sound' specifically for this exhibition, expanding on the theme of 'Black Hole: Ruthless Preceptor of Space and Time'.
Inspired by humanity's quest for enlightenment, these paintings blend scientific inquiry with spiritual exploration, resulting in works that are as intellectually stimulating as they are enjoyable to create.
Explore the inspirations and creative processes behind the development of Guan Yin and Black Hole, culminating in the Jñāna series, by following the link below.
The Making of Guan YinThe Making of Black HOlE
Originating from India, Jñāna (Sanskrit: ज्ञान) is a term that signifies 'knowledge' or 'wisdom.'
These two carved woodblocks symbolize humanity's quest for enlightenment through both intellectual and spiritual paths. Created two years apart, they were brought together in 2025 under the series 'Jñāna' to form a unified narrative.
In 2023, Kean Onn See delved into humanity's pursuit of understanding the physical reality by merging the fierce deity Mahākāla with the astrophysical phenomena of black holes in the first woodblock, 'Black Hole: Ruthless Preceptor of Space and Time.'
In 2025, Kean Onn See further developed this theme in the second woodblock, 'Guan Yin: Revered Perceiver of Sounds.' By integrating the qualities of the revered deity Guanyin, known for perceiving sounds, with the science of cymatics, which visualizes sound, this piece illustrates how sound and compassion can guide our spiritual journey into the cognitive realm.
Like a pair of eyes, they tell the story of humanity's exploration of the external world, striving to comprehend physical reality, while also turning inward to the cognitive realm, listening with compassion as we ponder the essence of life.
By weaving together scientific insights and spiritual wisdom, the series captures our innate desire to connect with and comprehend the universe, both within ourselves and in the cosmos, as we search for the true meaning of life.
Explore the various stages of Kean Onn See's creative process with the making of this carved and painted woodblock of 'Margaret Ackland'.
the Making of 'Margaret Ackland' Archibald Prize 2024 Finalists
