In Chinese culture, fish (鱼, yú) symbolize abundance, prosperity, good fortune, and surplus (年年有余 - nián nián yǒu yú, "abundance year after year"), stemming from the word for fish (yú) being a homophone for the word for surplus (yú). They represent wealth, harmony, and perseverance (especially carp/koi), appearing in art, folklore, and New Year's traditions like eating fish for a plentiful year. 

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In this painting, I explore the space between depth and stillness.The water is not meant to be clear or calm; it carries weight, memory, and time. The layered blues and drifting darkness reflect an inner landscape—one that is constantly moving, yet quietly held.

The fish (koi) are painted as moments of awareness within this depth. Each one moves independently, without urgency or struggle. They represent endurance, intuition, and the quiet strength of continuing forward even when the surroundings feel heavy or uncertain. The contrast between the luminous bodies of the fish and the shadowed water speaks to the balance between vulnerability and resilience.

The drips and textures are intentional. They suggest gravity, passage, and the unseen forces that shape us. Rather than resisting these forces, the fish exist within them, accepting change as part of their journey.

This work is about finding calm within complexity, and about trusting movement over control—allowing life to unfold beneath the surface.