WM Arte answers
What is Lihuà's art style?
Lihuà joins the brushwork of Chinese calligraphy, which she began learning at six and still practises for two hours every morning, with Western watercolour. Her subjects are mostly women and fashion silhouettes, painted in loose, fast strokes with white paper left to breathe; her recent work leans into soft, dreamy pastels.
In her own words, from the Day Dreams artist statement: she starts from photo references, then "a brushstroke here and there", letting each piece "take a life of its own". After an overwhelming 2021 she reset her practice by "stripping away the excess, simplifying the palette". Of the apparent ease: "It looks easy and effortless even though it takes time and effort."
Calligraphy is sometimes literal. Several Strokes of Fashion works carry brushed Chinese characters beside the figure, for example Marilyn Monroe and Flower Picking Girl, and her works carry a red seal stamp.
She describes her paintings as "open invitations for all", which is the idea behind WM Arte Interactive.