Life: Childhood-Girlhood-Adulthood

Life:  Childhood, Girlhood, Adulthood

Cross-cultural art by Lily Kostrzewa

My doctor’s office told me it was time to have a hysterectomy.  When I left, I looked back on my life.  I then realized I have come to the age counting my white hairs.

I decided it was time to paint a painting about life. The picture of childhood –girlhood-adulthood came to my mind. There is a Chinese song I used to sing when I was a school girl: “When I was a child my heart was only for my mommy. One day, I grew up I found my heart was full of him. …”. I looked back at the innocent childhood; a girl’s life was occupied by dolls and tutu.  Then one day she became a teenager;  she started feeling attracted to boys and sex became such giggling topic among girls. Eventually she got married and had children. She was very busy with daily grind. Then one day her youth was gone and physical problem surfaced one by one. She realized it seems that overnight she has turned old.

I always admire Li Bai’s poem, (701 – 762 AD), also known as Li Bo was a major Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty poetry period, regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Tang Dynasty. Especially the one “Bring in the Wine” talked about life so well. I also want to use this poem to paint about life. I place the poem of Chinese calligraphy on three paintings (see translation below) and mix with abstract expressive colors to continue my unique East/West cross cultural style.  Childhood-girlhood-adulthood three painting series is 10 feet wide by 4 feet high.  

"Childhood 42" w x 48" h"

"Girlhood 42" w x 48" h"

"Adulthood 42" w x 48" h"

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Bring in the Wine (Li Bai, 701-762 AD, China)       Ying Sun © 2008

Can’t you see the Yellow River coming from heaven,
Running to the sea with no return?
Can’t you see the mirror, high and bright,
Weeping over black hair at dawn, but white by night?
Enjoy life when there is prosperity.
Never tip a gold cup to the moon, empty.
Heaven has given me a gift and it’s my turn.
All my fortune is squandered, but it will return.
Let's have fun - a fest with veal and beef.
Empty three hundred drinks before we leave.
Master Cen, Pupil Danqiu,
Bring in the wine and I'll keep pouring for you.
And I'll sing you a song.
Please listen and hum along:
The life style of the rich is all fake.
I’d rather stay drunk, never awake.
All sages in history were solitary,
Except those drinkers who left their glory.
When Lord Chen entertained in Ping-Le Palace,
Pricey wine was poured just for joyfulness.
Why worry about spending money, my host?
Bring in more wine and I’ll drink the most.
Take my spotted stallion and fancy fur.
Ask the lad to trade for the wine I prefer.
Drink away the eternal sorrow we all suffer.

  

Half The Sky

Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa

Solo Exhibition at MWHOF

“Half the Sky: Women’s Rights are Human Rights”

Opening Reception, Sunday, August 5^th, 2:00-4:00 pm, 2012

The Michigan Women’s Historical Center and Hall of Fame is presenting a show by Mt. Pleasant artist Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa. The show starts on Sunday August 5^th with a reception from 2-4, and continues through October 27th, 2012.

The show is titled “Half the Sky: Women’s Rights are Human Rights”, and deals with issues of the powerful dynamic between men and women. Lily, a Taiwan-born artist, who now lives and paints in Michigan, incorporates elements of Chinese philosophy and women’s figures into her paintings along with contrasting abstract backgrounds. Her goal is to cross-culturally exam women’s rights issues. There are around fifteen paintings on paper and wood panel.

"Women’s Rights are Human Rights"

STYLE

Here I use Chinese ink to mix acrylic paints on rice paper to create layers of shadows, brick walls and ancient writing on the walls. In this way I create a time zone from ancient history to modern time.  With this style, I am showing art in a cross-cultural way.

DESCRIPTION

The series of paintings focus on the western feminist view about the male and female relationship.  The female figures are in white cartoonish outlines to create contrast with male shadows. The male and female roles with power struggles continue to waken the respect through different cultures. I would like to introduce the cultural harmony all the way to acceptance of diversities. You’ll see a peaceful resolution to power struggles by using respect.

In my paintings I also depict the dynamic of man and woman in a marriage. With male chauvinism still affecting this society, some may gain power with sweetness, others with force. I try to show the male and female roles with power struggles and continue to waken the respect through male/female with East/West different cultures. However, in the end it is still the power struggle of domination.

In the final picture I come out with the words “When I hear people talk about the equality of men and women, I draw a ? on the wall." Here I propose to the community it doesn’t matter if you are man or woman. People need to be open-minded and discuss how our society has progressed since women's suffrage (right to vote) movement in the late 19th and 20th century.

"Half the Sky"

DESCRIPTION

The three panels of painting - Half the Sky, are depicting about the Chinese Goddess – Nu Kua. She is one of the oldest and most powerful of the female deities from Chinese myth. She is depicted as a beautiful creature, half-woman, half-dragon…who wanders the earth. There was a great battle, the monster Kung-Kung (water God) wreaked a lot of havoc, flattening mountains, tilting the earth and tearing a hole in the sky. Fires raged out of control, the waters overran the world, and the cardinal points became misaligned. Nu Kua restored order with five colored stones, fixed the directions on the legs of tortoise, controlled the water and put out the fires, and repaired the sky.

I used this story to represent women can hold the half the sky and have the restoral power.

More pictures as below in the show:

Reception pictures as below:

News Media Release

Smithsonian Magazine Mt. Pleasant artist Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa cross-culturally examines the power dynamic between men and women.

http://article.wn.com/view/2012/08/04/Lansing_museum_to_debut_womens_rights_art_exhibit/

http://www.wndu.com/news/michigan/headlines/Art-exhibit-on-womens-rights-to-open-in-Lansing-165037816.html

http://michigannewspress.com/2012/08/04/art-exhibit-on-womens-rights-to-open-in-lansing/

China - a view from the clouds

Exhibition: China - a view from the clouds
by Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa
March 15 - April 15, 2012, Reception: 3/27, 4-6 pm
M - F, 8 am - 5 pm
Diversity Center, UC 108, Central Michigan University

Title: Mt. Ali Train Station Dimensions: 45” h x 26”w Medium: Acrylic and ink on panel

Title: Precious stones embraced heaven and earth Dimensions: 31” h x 37”w Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper Title: River cascading through mountains and clouds Dimensions: 37” h x 28”w Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper Title: Above the clouds Dimensions: 17” h x 21”w Medium: Acrylic and ink on paper Title: Down cliffs and boulders Dimensions: 18"h x 27"w Medium: Watercolor and ink on paper Title: Beyond the great mountains Dimensions: 30” h x 16”w Medium: Watercolor and ink on paper Title: In its mist rose Dimensions: 14” h x 18”w Medium: Ink on paper Title: Bicycles on campus Dimensions: 13” h x 18”w Medium: Ink on paper Title: From country to city river journey through Dimensions: 26"h x 28"w Medium: Ink on paper Title: Sail through mountains Dimensions: 12"h x 18"w Medium: Ink on paper Title: Far to the east Dimensions: 24"h x 12"w Medium: Ink on paper

Saginaw art museum - mature audience

Saginaw art museum - mature audience
art portfolio for mature audience
by Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa

 1. don't wait for tomorrow, 50" x 60", mixed media, 2011

2. hidden dragon crouching tiger, 36" x 48", mixed media, 2011

3. anticipation - money, power and sex, 48" x 36", mixed media, 2012

4. yin and yang - nude, 36" x 65", mixed media, 2011

5. couple, 32' x 40", mixed media, 2011

6. lying nude, 30" x 20", mixed media, 2011

7. reclining nude, 20" x 24", mixed media, 2011

8. sitting nude, 20" x 24", mixed media, 2011

9. sleeping nude, 20" x 24", mixed media, 2011

 10. identity search, 36" x 36", mixed media, 2006

 11. psalm, 24" x 72", mixed media, 2007

12. love in paris, 48" x 50", mixed media, 2009

Saginaw art museum - general audience

Saginaw Art Museum - portfolio for general audience
by Lily Lihting Li Kostrzewa

1. great lake evening, 20" x 28", mixed media, 2010

2. great lake cloudy, 20" x 24", mixed media, 2010

3. great lake misty, 20" x 24", mixed media, 2010

 4. great lake sunset, 20" x 30", mixed media, 2010

 5, great lake frosty, 20" x 30", mixed media, 2010

 6. great lake rainy, 22' x 34", acrylic painting, 2010

 7. great lake snowy, 20" x 28", mixed media, 2010

 8. blue sky eiffel tower paris, 22" x 30", mixed media, 2010

 9. blue sky grand hotel taipei, 30" x 22", mixed media, 2010

10. blue sky from east to the west, 29" x 59", mix media, 2010

 11. water lily - vertical, 34" x 22", acrylic painting, 1996

 12. love in paris, 48" x 50", mixed media, 2009