maI li HUA / 麥麗華

Helen Mak

b.1996

Toronto, Canada

Helen Mak is a Chinese-Canadian artist based in Toronto. Self-taught, her work draws inspiration from both traditional Chinese Shanshui (landscape) paintings and abstract expressionism. Born and raised in Toronto, Mak draws inspiration from her experiences as a second-generation Chinese-Canadian, exploring the complexities of growing up with both Eastern and Western teachings.

Through her dreamlike landscapes, Mak envisions a fantastical world where Eastern and Western cultures intersect. Her paintings delve into themes of belonging, displacement, and the tension between tradition and modernity. Nature and the environment play a central role in her work, as she examines the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world.

Mak's self-taught artistic journey has led her to create pieces that invite viewers to contemplate the complexities of identity, culture, and our place in the world.