2014

The First Inhabitants

I first became intrigued with the beauty of the surrounding jungles, caves and foliage that would inspire my current artistic direction during a trip to Southeast Asia. From that moment on, I became drawn to the idea of primordial landscapes free of man-made structures. Since then, my interest in unexplored terrains has morphed into a fascination with the beginnings of life, and the connections we humans share with our surrounding geography—for instance, the parallel between rivers and the blood that flows through our veins. In this most recent body of work, I utilize forms, shapes and colors synonymous with nature, the human body, and the cosmos to further investigate the common origin of all life forms. My mixed media pieces and paintings are abstract and organic, earthly but also imagined, reflecting my endeavor to portray, explore and celebrate the inception of life as we know it. Initially, I began creating large scale paintings in oils because of their rich and vibrant colors, as well as their fluidity. Since then I have gravitated towards pen, ink and watered down acrylic paint-­‐-­‐I love the transparency and airiness that these mediums allow me to achieve in my new pieces. Most recently, I have integrated layered cut paper into my work in order to add new textures and 3 dimensional elements to my pieces.

Alexandra Chiou is a visual artist interested in exploring the complex parallels between the natural world, geography and human anatomy. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 2011 with a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.S. in Commerce. Her work has been exhibited in a number of galleries in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC including the Rawls Museum, artdc Gallery and Blind Whino: SW Arts Club. She currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.