neiswai
abstract artist
objects of desire
Step into a world where hidden longings and unspoken dreams come to life. "Objects of Desire" is an intimate and provocative exploration of the desires that shape, challenge, and define us. Created to honour the themes of the Chinese Lunar New Year, this exhibition invites you to confront the passions that burn within and the aspirations that linger just beyond your reach.
Through a series of evocative works, Neis Wai blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, drawing you into an immersive experience of self-discovery.
What do you yearn for most?
What lies just beyond your grasp?
Dare to look closer and uncover the desires that ignite your soul. Celebrate the season of renewal by stepping into a space where your innermost thoughts are brought to life.
Will you confront your deepest yearnings and embrace the truths they reveal?
the wooden snake
2025 is the year of the Wood Snake. It is associated with intelligence, perseverance, and strategy. Green, a Wood element color, complements the Yin Wood Snake energy and strengthens growth, harmony, and renewal. By aligning with the Snake's strategic approach, all zodiac signs can navigate the year successfully.
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm Colour pencil and ink on paper) Sold
the sacred number
In Chinese culture, 9 is associated with longevity and power. So when paired with 8, it would be prosperity in abundance forever! In the Bahá’í faith, it represents unity, fulfilment and divine purpose. It’s a powerful spiritual number.
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm Colour pencil and ink on paper) Sold
god of wealth
The God of Wealth is a mythological figure in Taoism and Chinese folk religion and a central figure in Chinese New Year celebrations around the world. It represents wealth, fortune, and prosperity and these are usually represented by the sceptre and gold ingots. To have the God of Wealth image in one’s house or business is to attract and capture all the fengshui associated with it. As a result its image is frequently displayed in Chinese homes and business premises. In this painting, a double sceptre is installed on the crown!
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm colour pencil and ink on paper) $550
i ruf you
My daughter has always lamented she didn’t have a dog while she was growing up. The type she likes best are the fluffy ones gambolling about so happily with their hair all over their eyes, where you wonder how they manage to navigate the world.
(Framed: 75.5 x 107 cm acrylic and ink on paper) $800
inside desire
ChatGPT says: Desire is a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something, whether it's a physical object, an experience, a relationship, or a goal. It can be driven by emotions, instincts, conscious or unconscious thought. Complex and layered, we may know exactly what some of our desires are but sometimes, we are unable to enunciate others.
(Framed: acrylic and ink on paper) $800
whisper of time
I saw the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum many years ago and this memory stayed with me. The stone is over 2,200 years ago was created during the reign of Ptolemy V, a ruler of Egypt from the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty. The inscriptions on the stone commemorate a decree issued by Egyptian priests in honour of the king.
(Framed: acrylic and ink on paper) $600
sentosa
My 10th uncle was the first architect to start work on making Sentosa Island into the resort it is today. It is a little gem off the coast of Singapore. As a young girl, I would witness him working on large paper drawings, creating maps and plans meticulously by hand with Rotring pens; plans for the repurposing of different parts of the island to make it beautiful and functional.
(Framed: 30 x 42 cm ink on paper) Sold
path of the chosen
A path opens challenging you to enter. Would you? In Mission Impossible, Ethan Hunt was presented with a mission. “This message will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, if you choose to accept it." Opportunities in life often present themselves. If you waver, you may miss them and the paths close and are gone forever.
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm colour pencil on paper) $550
land of the lotus eaters
In Greek mythology, the lotus-eaters were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were a narcotic, causing inhabitants to sleep in peaceful apathy. After eating the lotus they would forget their home and loved ones and never cared to report, nor return.
(Framed: 75 x 55.5 cm acrylic and ink on paper) $600
midnight in mongkok
Mongkok is a densely populated area within the Kowloon district of Hong Kong. It's considered one of the most vibrant and bustling neighborhoods, known for its shopping, markets, and street food. The sounds, smells and visuals are intoxicating. Underneath the exciting surface there exists a spectrum of dark activities where all manner of transactions take place.
(Framed: 75 x 55.5 cm acrylic and ink on paper) $600
web metro
If one zooms out and look at transportation maps, it would look like a web over a city. The most complex map I have seen is Tokyo's railway and subway route map. Its complexity is daunting and one needs to enrol in a course to learn how to read it!
(Framed: 75.5 x 107 cm acrylic and ink on non acidic paperboard) $800
the town of DeepSeek
I painted this before Deepseek was announced. If I was a little electron whizzing around, I suspect Deepseek would be like this, a town with many powerful and functional parts all connected by circuits of speedy highways.
(Framed: 75 x 55.5 cm acrylic and ink on paper) $600
mount samsoh in autumn
The view of the mountain from the top as the seasons change offers amazing vistas. I named this mountain Samsoh to remember my mother who was known by the honorific Samsoh in the family she married into. It literally translates into 3rd sister-in-law as my dad was number 3 in the family.
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm soft pastel, colour pencil and ink on paper) $500
the dive in turks and caicos
About 10 mins by boat from the front of where we stayed, is The Grand Turk "Wall" - one of the most fascinating living coral reefs on this blue planet. The second largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most amazing, is home to thousands of species coexisting in a perfect storm of temperature and salinity.
(Framed: 75 x 107 cm acrylic on paper) Sold
pursuit of scarlet
A heavy downpour had left large blobs of rainwater on this Ferrari (it must be the latest model by the admiring looks from passers-by). But the most striking feature for me was the scarlet colour of the car made especially brilliant when seen through the prism of the water blobs on its surface.
(Framed: 75.5 x 107 cm acrylic and ink on paper) $800
home of pink turtles
When my daughter, Isabel, was little, she always wanted me to tell her endless stories while I try to get her to sleep. This painting is based on one of them inspired by dreamtime stories of First Nation people. It’s about Pink Turtles returning to their hatching grounds undercover of water weeds reflecting the blue of the sky.
(Framed: 59.4 x 42 cm acrylic on paper) $500
we are afraid of wolves
Mongolian herders typically gather their livestock at night into small enclosures or corrals to protect them from predators especially wolves and from harsh weather in winter. They follow their livestock which knows where to find the best grazing pastures and set up their yurts there.
(Framed: 75 x 55 cm acrylic on paper) $600