My art is rooted in the concept of unexplored terrains and new worlds. They can be symbols of the unknown but also of possibility and new beginnings. I see these symbols in the night sky at the desert, in the horizon line at the ocean, and in the vastness of the mountains. I see these signs in my family history, as my parents crossed oceans of uncertainty to be where they are today, and also in my own personal narrative.
As for my process, I am drawn to paper as it is a common material that is also versatile and moldable. I work with hand-cut paper to create dimensional collages that explore the threshold between painting and sculpture. I paint, cut, and arrange various shapes and colors as if I am piecing together a puzzle; each shape, line, and color is a hint, trace, and impression of nature and memory.
Alexandra Chiou is a visual artist who draws on memory, landscape, and family history to create intricate collages that explore themes of uncharted terrains as symbols of hope, possibility, and new beginnings. Chiou works primarily with layered hand-cut paper to create dimensional works that investigate the threshold between painting and sculpture. Her paintings and works on paper have been
exhibited nationally and abroad.
Chiou has always looked to nature’s contours and horizons as symbols of hope and new beginnings during challenging times and life transitions, and she is constantly inspired by the quiet power and resilience of nature. Through her works, Chiou strives to instill a sense of peace, calm, and wonder within individuals by transporting viewers into the magical worlds she creates.