maK LAI WA / 麥麗華
Helen Mak
Toronto, CANADA
Helen Mak is a self-taught Chinese-Canadian artist based in Toronto. Her work blends traditional Chinese shan shui (landscape) painting with abstract expressionism, influenced by her experiences as a second-generation Chinese-Canadian. Mak explores the complexities of growing up with both Eastern and Western teachings, using dreamlike landscapes to envision a world where these cultures intersect. Her paintings examine themes of belonging, displacement, and the tension between tradition and modernity, with nature and the environment playing a central role. Through her work, Mak invites viewers to reflect on identity, culture, and our connection to the world.