Temple of Tales

[Download this model for free, link in bio] 33 years ago, the Goddess of Democracy was constructed in Tiananmen Square to boost the morale of the pro-democracy demonstration there. The statue was promptly destroyed by the government, along with the lives of so many students who fought for freedom. The brutal regime responsible still reigns over China today, however, as the original creators of the Goddess declared: “… as a symbol of the people’s hearts, she is divine and inviolate… Erect the statue of the Goddess of Democracy in your millions of hearts! Long live the people! Long live freedom! Long live democracy!" Using archival photos, I tried to recreate the original sculpt as faithfully as possible. Until the Goddess finds her way back to the Square some day, there’s always 3D printing. 🕯 #tiananmensquare #democracy #goddess #china #hongkong #六四 #民主女神 #天安門 #goddessofdemocracy #tiananmensquaremassacre #3dmodeling #3dprinting #illustration #zbrush #digitalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CeYFAZGg-Es/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"From the living fountain of instinct flows everything that is creative; hence the unconscious is not merely conditioned by history, but is the very source of the creative impulse. It is like nature herself - prodigiously conservative, and yet transcending her own historical conditions in her acts of creation." Carl Jung ⛲️ ⁣#WaterOfLife #CarlJung #illustration #digitalpainting #procreate #artistsoninstagram #hongkongartist #TempleOfTales #jungian #psychology #oldhongkong #symbolism https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJ5qkDgGZx/?utm_medium=tumblr

⁣I used to dislike my hometown for its buildings, to me they looked stark and lifeless, functional, unlike the pretty ones in fairytales. In retrospect, our humanity glistens against the monolithic backdrop, like verdant moss decorating a weathered boulder. 🪨 This painting can be found in Hiraeth - A Longing for Home, which was successfully kickstarted earlier this year. It's filled with beautiful artwork from other illustrators, each contributing a piece that represents what home means to them. ⁣#hongkong #hiraeth #illustration #kickstarter #fantasylandscape #goddess #tonglau #artistsoninstagram #dimsum #procreate #teatime #hongkongarchitecture #hongkongart https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqrYEEAQFO/?utm_medium=tumblr

The Frozen toy theatre is here and available to order from @benjamin_pollocks_toyshop ❄️ Such a joy working with Pollock's to render Christopher Oram's fabulous sets and costumes in miniature, what a treat! A bastion for the art of storytelling and childhood wonders, Pollock's is one of my favourite places. Be sure to pop over if you're in Covent Garden, it's an absolute treature trove! 🎭 ⁣⁣⁣#ToyTheatre #BenjaminPollocksToyshop ⁣⁣#ChristopherOram ⁣⁣⁣#FrozenTheMusical #FrozenLondon #CoventGarden ⁣#⁣frozenthetoytheatre⁣ ⁣⁣#⁣papertheatre ⁣⁣#⁣illustration ⁣⁣#⁣TempleofTales ⁣⁣⁣#⁣disney ⁣⁣⁣#ToyTheatre #BenjaminPollocksToyshop ⁣⁣#ChristopherOram ⁣⁣⁣#FrozenTheMusical #FrozenLondon #CoventGarden ⁣#⁣frozenthetoytheatre⁣ ⁣⁣#⁣papertheatre ⁣⁣#⁣illustration ⁣⁣#⁣TempleofTales ⁣⁣⁣#⁣disney https://www.instagram.com/p/CXi2qp9AG21/?utm_medium=tumblr

China has a rich queer history despite her current government’s woefully backwards approach to equality. Fujian for instance was known to be a haven of sorts, so much so that a popular Taoist cult sprang forth in the 18th century, dedicated to Tu’er Shen the bunny god, who bestowed blessings specifically upon gay folks. For the last day of Pride Month, let’s look back on how far we’ve come, and gear up for the long journey ahead. 🐰🏳️‍🌈 #pride #pridemonth #tuershen #queer #mythology #pride2021 #bunny #rabbit #兔兒神 #illustration #digitalart #procreate #artistsoninstagram #taoism #gay #gaygod #deity #fujian #templeoftales https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvFrmuAbbL/?utm_medium=tumblr

A candle for all the brave souls who fought for justice, and a lily to mourn the death of free speech in Hong Kong 🕯 #毋忘六四 #tiananmensquare #democracy #liberatehongkong #8964 #fucktheccp #freespeech #hongkong #illustration #tiananmensquaremassacre https://www.instagram.com/p/CPsHSrpAMjQ/?utm_medium=tumblr

My Mermay entry this year! On the last day no less as per customary. 😅 I'm afraid there's no tale behind this one, although she is inspired by the Glaucus Atlanticus. These fabulous creatures are quite ferocious, feeding on venomous preys much larger than they are, absorbing the toxins, which they then concentrate and use for self-defence. They've been spotted near the coast of Taiwan recently, but don't go touching one unless you want a nasty sting. 🧜‍♀️ #mermay2021 #glaucusatlanticus #mermaid #characterdesign #illustration #digitalart #procreate #nudibranch #bluedragon #templeoftales #fantasyart #mermay #artnouveau #artistsoninstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CPik4NRgDmN/?utm_medium=tumblr

The Immortal Lady Lotus symbolises the pursuit of health through purity and knowledge of nutrition. When we find ourselves in the murky waters of junk foods and bad habits, remember that we too have the strength to rise above the mud and blossom out of darkness. 🧘‍♀️ #荷仙姑 #HeXianGu #Lotus #Immortals #goddess #Tao #mythology #digitalart #illustration #procreate #artistoninstagram #characterdesign #mystical #rain #chineseart #templeoftales #chinesemythology #taoism #nymph #healthyliving #water https://www.instagram.com/p/CPAwvSEg0Fb/?utm_medium=tumblr

Had to take a break from art last month... but I'm back with Madame White Snake for my paper theatre! 🐍  One of the great folklores from Ming Dynasty, her tale had a surprisingly progressive and humanistic undertone, in which our heroine, despite her inhuman nature, fought valiantly against religious bigotry to rescue her human lover. She argued "A zealot without compassion might well be a monster." ⚔️    #妖若有情亦如人 #LegendOfTheWhiteSnake #白蛇娘娘 #ChineseFolklore #CantoneseOpera #WhiteSnake #Illustration #Procreate #TempleOfTales #ArtNouveau #ArtistsOnInstagram #DigitalArt #CharacterDesign #Goddess #Mythology #Storytime #characterart #chinesemythology #heroine https://www.instagram.com/p/COZ2BW5ADc9/?igshid=8j9dk80ft8x0

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs but not every man’s greed." Erysichthon once chopped down the sacred oaks of Demeter for profit, only to be cursed with eternal hunger that consumed him. Considering the impact of NFT, is the ecological cost worth our insatiable cravings for wealth? #mythology #erysichthon #demeter #NFT #cryptoart #greekmythology #limos #cautionarytales #dryad #nymph #digitalart #procreate #illustration #artistsoninstagram #templeoftales https://www.instagram.com/p/CNFMKovA-hA/?igshid=vdl6jj5auqzk

First design from my project Sacraria, a series of mini paper theatres. This one pays tribute to Cantonese Operas, where powerful female characters in dazzling costumes sang almost-eerie melodies, they used to disturb and fascinate me as a child. Currently working on the characters to go inside! 🎭    #papertheater #cantoneseopera #toytheatre #glowinthedark #papercrafts #toydesign #illustration #artistsoninstagram #chinesetheatre #oldhongkong #templeoftales #procreate #digitalart #dragonandphoenix https://www.instagram.com/p/CMtsmgmg-45/?igshid=1qqgyehystx9u

In the bleakness of a late winter lockdown, why not find comfort in new passion projects, and keep your darkness in check with self-assurance that new growth is just around the corner.⠀ This Queen of Wands commission was made for the birthday of a very magical lady who embodies the card’s splendent symbolisms. 🌻🌞🐈‍⬛👑 #Tarot #QueenOfWands #Sunflower #Illustration #Procreate #DigitalArt #TempleOfTales https://www.instagram.com/p/CMJ4sJqAH8H/?igshid=19td1505l3wua

Nuwa averted cataclysm by mending the sky. Her serpentine form suggests wisdom and the renewal of life, a recurring theme among Matriarchal deities such as Cōātlīcue, Renenutet and the Minoan Snake Goddess. Our ozone layer has healed significantly since the Montreal Protocol, may Nuwa bless us with better government regulations to heal our planet before disaster strikes. 🐍 #女媧補天 #Illustration #DigitalArt #Nuwa #Procreate #Snake #Goddess #AncientChina #Mythology #TempleOfTales https://www.instagram.com/p/CLl5-MtgbyU/?igshid=lllop3uca27k

Sir David’s Attenborough’s faith in environmental sciences provides much needed optimism. Here’s Demeter with her power of renewal, may she bless our agricultural technologies, along with Shennong the Divine Farmer, who may yet inspire better sustainable farming methods. 🌾 #Demeter #Shennong #agriculture #sustainablefarming #illustration #digitalart #procreate #TempleOfTales #paganism https://www.instagram.com/p/CLB8q2Eg6MX/?igshid=ttog9pgdslbm

We have our own unlikely version of the Prometheus figure. The Sheep, in seeing malnourished humans who knew not of agriculture, stole five grains from the Jade Emperor and gifted it to men (presumably with a handbook on how to farm them). Poor thing was sacrificed for the hubris of course, but we continue to celebrate its giving spirit, as well as its gentility and perseverance in the face of hostility. 🐏 #TempleOfTales #Sheep #Prometheus #Agriculture #chinesefolklore #digitalart #illustration #procreate https://www.instagram.com/p/CKYf0t6A5Lb/?igshid=doscb7muuhr3

Anita Mui, Daughter of Hong Kong, who famously wedded herself to the stage, encapsulated the essence of our city’s golden age. 17 years since her tragic passing, we continue to feel the reverberation of her courage, tenacity and kindness, well beyond the scope of entertainment. #梅艷芳 #AnitaMui #Cantopop #DigitalArt #Illustration #Procreate #HongKong #集體回憶 #80s #八十年代 #templeoftales https://www.instagram.com/p/CJyl0gRAC_s/?igshid=1l93c0mrp3eza

Happy Holidays! Haven’t done a Christmas Day post in years! So glad to be drawing again.🎄 #歲寒三友 #illustration #wintergoddess #Yule #Christmas #TempleOfTales #digitalart #ukiyoe #demeter #moon #robin #merrychristmas https://www.instagram.com/p/CJOwQsDA-Wq/?igshid=koyvemd8orzz