Grace B. Yap-Kirk
A Walk in the Park
2024
mp4 video
2.36 minutes long, 67.7MB
(available in ebook)
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“Threads of Love: Weaving Christ's love across cultures and boundaries” exhibition by VISIONARIES
Jul - Sep 2024
Peter W Sheehan ACU Gallery, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
ARTIST STATEMENT: by Grace B. Yap-Kirk
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Throughout history, all cultures share common challenges: of achieving communion with one another; of play much forgotten; keeping a warm hearth and food on the table; securing a habitat one calls 'home' and having a known proven pathway to live life.
I was inspired by a walk in the park. I recognise how Christ's love threads through human hearts to transform emptiness into fullness, and how it shows up in everyday life.
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In sharing this project with my son, love crosses my boundary as a spiritual artist into his game artist domain. Can our differences work? We have never done this before.
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I initiated this art project by bringing nothing but emptiness to the table, while I look to the younger generation to fulfil love's dream.
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This video started as Grace’s mobile phone photography, followed by Joel’s digital art using Krita software, strung together as moving pictures using Canva software.
Grace B. Yap-Kirk is an intuitive artist who practises art as contemplation, using digital medium, video, photography, pastels, charcoal and acrylics.
ARTIST STATEMENT: by Joel Yap
In a world that is often cruel and uncertain, I find solace and purpose in seeking optimism. My art reflects the simple joys in life, especially with the next generation to whom we entrust the world.
Through my work, I aim to challenge the perceived narratives of emptiness and loneliness, inviting viewers to instead embrace a more optimistic outlook on life with joy and love.
In sharing this project with my mother, I aim to showcase the lessons and love she has raised me with and as the next generation, I showcase my perspective through my little avatars.
I received this art project with open arms in hopes of showing the older generation that not everything has to be empty and bleak, but instead to have faith in the younger generation to continue their dream of unity and threads of love.
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Joel Yap is an aspiring filmmaker and game designer who uses digital art for hobby and relaxation.
TEMPEST
2023
mp4 video
2 minutes long, 44.2MB
(available in ebook)
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“LIGHT in the darkness; BEAUTY for brokenness; HOPE for despair” exhibition by VISIONARIES
August 2023
Peter W Sheehan Gallery, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
ARTIST STATEMENT
The art video “TEMPEST” was inspired by my curiosity about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on art and society. I explored the potential and limitations of AI as a creative tool to reflect human creativity and spirituality.
The video uses AI-generated images to depict Christian transformation from stormy life challenges into the stillness and calm of God.
It is fully composed from a series of photorealistic themed images created through IMGCreator.AI and put together using Canva video software, with its app music "Nostalgic Piano" by Anonymus.
While new technology can never replace the human artist, embracing AI as a gift creates much fun and added dimensions to my work.
REMEMBERING LOVE
2018
mp4 video
02:52 min
use headphones for bilateral movement soundtrack effect
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”Cherish” exhibition by VISIONARIES
Jul 17 - Aug 14, 2018
Peter W Sheehan Gallery, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane
ARTIST STATEMENT
This piece of work is inspired by interpretation of Hansen’s First Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, an imaginative contemplation. It invites viewers to cherish love and gratitude through partnership, family, friendship as well as remembering the marginalised and the forgotten.
"I THIRST ... !"
2018
mp4 art video & poetry
00:51 min
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”I Thirst!” exhibition by COSSAG
Jun 2018
Cathedral of St Stephen Art Group, Brisbane
“We are finished!”
Woman declares with a final straw
but lo, He appears
superimposed on Man’s face
gentle heart voice came
“I thirst ... !”
her heart and eyes melt
at His thirst
then her own
and the crown pricks her
once again
ARTIST STATEMENT
Biblical theme of “I thirst” (John 19:28) inspires a story of the other’s inner Christ ever-appealing for love’s mercy, especially when hatred is so well deserved. The call for oneself to die again and again is daunting. Can we rise as Christ to Christ, deep calling to deep and quench His everlasting thirst?
WALLS & STRAWS
2017
digital - words & photography
mp4 photostory video with ebook
05:10 min
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”All are One” exhibition by COSSAG
Jun 2018
Cathedral of St Stephen Art Group, Brisbane
ARTIST STATEMENT
Journey of displacement caused me to contemplate on worldview. My concluding paragraph “Together we hold the earth” especially challenges my view of “oneness with the world.” Using man-made plumbline, “All are One” speaks of celebrating unity and equality despite differences, like a brick wall, which makes me reject the terrorists and Trumps. In reality, Humanity includes these people. The “us versus them” mentality on both sides reflect the way Duality has always played in Oneness. My challenge is to embrace the ‘as-is’, without judgment of good and evil, for All of Humanity are One. Hoseline, not plumbline, is key.