Wondrously Detailed Paintings by Alice Lin Show the Complex Relationship Between Self and Surroundings

Illustrator Alice Lin uses watercolor and pigment on rice paper and silk to create intricately detailed worlds. Human and animal figures are enveloped in pastel-toned bursts of swirling flowers, mushrooms, oceans, and rock formations. Despite their storybook-like quality, many of Lin’s works are fairly large, with some spanning more than three feet wide.

On the surface, the artwork of Alice Lin titillates with its whimsical playfulness and can be greatly appreciated in this regard alone. If we take the time to delve a little deeper however, the returns are infinitely rewarding, as Lin creates profoundly personal imagery which speaks intimately about the human condition. Utilising the ancient painting techniques of her native China in a thoroughly contemporary manner, Lin fosters connections with her cultural history which wield even greater power given that these associations also extend to her subject matter. Infused with a magical surrealism, Lin’s protagonists appear in portraits that are both metaphorical in nature and emotive in intent. Her ambitious scope gives way to rich detail and we are immersed in the wonders of a unique imagination that effortlessly succeeds in jumpstarting our own.

The Beijing-based artist shares her work on Behance, and you can also follow her on Instagram.