Hayley Chiu’s latest exhibition delves into the balance between calm and chaos
By Angel Agbontaen
“Do you have the patience to wait until the mud settles and the water is clear?”
For Hayley Chi Hay Chiu, this ancient Tao proverb captures the essence of her exhibition “When the Mud Settles,” which had its opening night at the Abbozzo Gallery on Friday, Oct. 11. The proverb speaks to the process of finding clarity through stillness — a theme Chiu explores throughout her work.
According to Chiu, the act of mud settling represents patience. But it can also embody chaos, though not in the typical negative sense.
“It’s excitement, it’s motion and its productivity. But it can also be fatigue, burnout and anxiety,” Chiu explains.
Since graduating from OCAD University in 2023, Chiu recalls being very busy, always making a painting for a show and having very little downtime. While the process was incredibly rewarding for the artist, she admits that much of her drive came from a place of fear — fear of losing momentum.
As Chiu moves into a time in her career when things are starting to quiet down, she grapples with the good and bad sides of slowness.
In “When the Mud Settles,” Chiu finds herself in a state of clarity, navigating stillness and its mix of both peace and discomfort.
“Mud in the water is very cloudy, but it gives form to movement. It allows me to see the direction I’m going, even if it’s just in my immediate surroundings. When the mud settles, the guides and expectations I had for myself suddenly disappear, and I can see further, but it’s something I’m not used to; almost like a loss of direction. But ultimately, it’s not a bad thing. I’m just more connected with myself, feeling the motion without the chaos around me,” said Chiu.
Chiu expresses this journey through her oil paintings, using self-portraits as a way to embrace both her body and the changes she experiences within herself and her art. She places herself within vibrant, surreal landscapes that transport the viewer to a world where evolution and growth know no bounds.
As a second-generation Chinese-Canadian, she incorporates Taoist ideas into her art, which often features imagery of the land and water. In Taoism, the body is viewed as a larger universe while simultaneously being a universe itself. This belief is a key theme in Chiu’s work as she reflects on how her body and the land influence each other, seeing it as an ongoing exchange.
“I try to think about the influence that my body has on the land, and then in turn, the influence the land has on me. It’s kind of like an endless cycle. In “Periphery as Core,” instead of me being at the forefront, I recede into the background and let my surroundings come through me. These are all places I’ve been around and in, and I think about how they’ve contributed to creating me, even if it’s only for a fleeting moment,” explained Chiu.
The influence between body and water is brought to life in Chiu’s “Heart’s Water,” a standout piece in the exhibition. The painting depicts a dreamlike scene of Chiu swimming alongside jellyfish in a serene body of water. The soothing colour palette of greens and blues contrasts with the warmness of the red and yellows. This painting reflects a fluidity of emotions, showing their tenderness and complexity.
“Water seems to flow in such a magical order, moving in a way that feels almost sentient, with strict laws I don’t fully understand, but I don’t try to. I can see it, observe it and find comfort in knowing that things will run its course, whether or not I understand them or worry about them,” said Chiu.
The opening reception for “When the Mud Settles” drew in a busy and diverse crowd. Attendees paused to closely examine each painting, some taking photos of the ones they most connected with, while others nodded thoughtfully before moving to the next piece.
The exhibition provokes deep thought and offers a level of vulnerability that’s hard to look away from — vulnerability in exercising patience through chaos and trusting that clarity will follow.
Through her work, Chiu hopes to foster a sense of connection, inviting people to connect with themselves and others in a shared experience of uncertainty. She urges visitors to stay present, understanding that while the mud will keep stirring and settling, the important thing is to embrace every moment fully.
“When the Mud Settles” is on display at the Abbozzo Gallery until Nov. 2.
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