The Digital Gallery: Thrive (欣欣向荣) by Si Yi Shen

Transitions from sparse to dense, pale to rich, Thrive (欣欣向荣) is a digital mural expressing the notion of affinity through growth and nurture.

Through City of Canada Bay community participation and the artist's archive, this collection of pictures was meticulously photoshopped and animated, creating a dynamic network of interconnected flowers.

This work takes inspiration from the artist's mother's non-verbal communication with overseas family members and friends. She shares photographs of flowers as digital greetings. Thrive is part of a body of work that the artist developed for the past two years, utilising her pictures as the paint palette.

Si Yi Shen is an emerging multidisciplinary artist working with digital media, mixed reality (XR) technology and installation, moving between online and offline domains. Her current practice explores diaspora experience through the body of an immigrant in a digitally enabled world.

Recent commissions include In the Moment - Boronia Grove Community Centre, City of Parramatta (2021), Sending You Love - Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, City of Liverpool (2021), Living - Storybox Darling Harbour / Parramatta, ESEM Projects (2021), The Eclipse - Willoughby Visual Art Biennial (2019) and The Bloom and the Moon - The Digital Gallery, Rhodes (2019). Shen was also a finalist in the Fisher's Ghost Art Prize (2021 and 2019) and Rookwood Hidden Sculpture Walk (2018).

Shen currently lives, works, and plays on Gadigal Land Sydney, Australia.

Thrive is showing in The Digital Gallery from Monday, 2 May to Sunday, 29 May 2022.