IN THE STUDIO WITH ARTIST MICHELLE MA
Chinese-born artist Michelle Ma showed artistic talent from the age of eight when she learned traditional Chinese ink painting from a master painter in her Manchurian hometown. However, it wasn’t until she became a mother of two while living in Singapore that she began to turn her passion and talent into a creative career. We spoke with her about her artistic path and what inspires her to create her vivid oil paintings.
We love your “East meets West” style, and how it has been inspired by growing up in FuShun, Liaoning Province in mainland China. Can you tell us a little more about your journey to becoming an artist?
Making art has always been my dream ever since I was five years old growing up in my Manchurian hometown. I started to learn traditional Chinese ink painting when I was eight years old from a master who was an apprentice of Qi Bai Shi, the Xie Yi Master. However, being the only child, I couldn’t possibly imagine becoming a “starving artist” in the 1980’s in China. After University in Beijing I joined Shell, the biggest petrochemical project in China, and then in 2007 I had the opportunity to work for Shell in Singapore. After becoming a mother of two in 2014 I started to evaluate life and its perspective, which helped me to make the decision to quit my beloved job at Shell and follow my inner voice.
In June 2016 I had my first exhibition in Singapore at The Substation, which was my official announcement of my new identity as an artist. Many of my ex-colleagues from the oil and gas world were shocked!
What is the focus of your creative process and how do you feel it has evolved?
Before I dip my brush into the paint for that first stroke, I always spend a lot of time either online or in the library doing research and studying the subjects or themes I plan to work on. I used to focus on the “likeness” at the beginning, but now I feel painting itself isn’t the most difficult part. The hardest part is finding a way to get the emotion onto the canvas so it can be felt by the viewers. It is an “In and Out” process that is quite challenging but interesting.
As a mother and an artist, how do you manage your work-life balance? Any tips?
Unlike most of the mompreneurs in Singapore where domestic helpers are largely available, I choose to live a life without. The fact that I created my start-up business and organized a self-curated exhibition all within six months and while being the mother of two toddlers proves it can work. My tips would be:
1. Make sure that you have a supportive family.
2. Create a relatively structured routine.
3. Outsource work with low value added.
4. Keep focused! I have a whiteboard in my kitchen and update it on a daily basis so nothing will go wrong.
5. Learn to say “No”.
Since your transition to working full-time on your art business, what have been your main areas of focus?
Currently I am focusing on building up my portfolio for my second exhibition in Singapore in September 2017. The main body of work will be a series of prominent female figures in China’s early 20th century.
Why was it important for you to choose extraordinary female portraits as your next main body of work for your second exhibition?
As we all know, a good artist needs to stay true to her/himself in order to create impressive work that makes an impact. Women in China weren’t given enough fair attention in the past. Myself, my mother, my auntie and my grandmother were all victims under such a system, if we are allowed to call it that. The single child policy came into effect the same year I was born, so it was a disappointment to my family when they found out I was a girl. Over the years, I strived to be the best in school, at work, etc. in order to make a statement that there is no difference between girls and boys. Being an artist, I asked myself what is my value and what I can bring to the world to make an impact? All those introspective questions led me to choose prominent female figures for my next series of work.
Why the early 20th century?
I chose this era because it was the time period when my privileged grandparents started to lose everything they had built up from their ancestors. It was a very hard and emotional time for them. Plus, China was going through some dramatic changes politically and socially. Personally I feel that era is fascinating.
Your family is obviously a significant influence, how have they inspired your art?
My father is a creative soul and he was very good at drawing when he was young. However, his generation wasn’t given a lot of opportunity to pursue their dreams, as art wasn’t encouraged at all in that era. He worked as a rural labourer during the Cultural Revolution, and when the revolution ended in the 1970s he became a self-taught Chinese and English translator. He spent almost 80% of his salary every month purchasing his learning materials, even though the salary was only RMB38 countrywide. It was mainly my mum’s salary that was used to support the household. There wasn’t one single moment that he wanted to give up. So far he has successfully translated a few dictionaries and books.
My mum came from a “landlord” family background, which didn’t help her during Culture Revolution. She was given a “black label” by the Communists. She spent eight years of hardship starting from 18 years old in a very poor rural village where she had no friends because they considered her shameful being the child of a landlord. She only returned to her city when she was 26 years old.
My parents told me many stories of their past. I learned one thing from them: that there is nothing impossible in the world as long as you have your firm belief in it. I have always applied this to my art business. I also hope that our family stories can passed on to our children and beyond.
As an artist and a business owner, how do you find a balance between creating and promoting your artwork?
It is forever a headache for me. I wish I could have 48 hours per day. I hope to soon find a suitable and passionate assistant to manage my social media marketing.
What has been your greatest challenge and greatest achievement since launching your art business?
My biggest challenge has been being torn between spending time creating and marketing/networking.
But a successful first exhibition with commission and orders from all over the world afterwards was pretty rewarding!
If you had 10 free hours with a consultant, what areas of your business would you ask for help with?
Brand building and marketing.
Can you tell us about a female creative entrepreneur in your community that you are inspired by?
I met Jennifer Lim about a year ago in Singapore, and we have kept in touch ever since. It is very encouraging to see how much she has progressed with her continuous learning approach to hear art business.
Check out Michelle Ma Art and please show your support!
www.michellemaart.com
www.facebook.com/michellemaxiaoling
www.instagram.com/michellemaart
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