More Than Art and Journals, We Are Stories
At first glance, a quiet world of art and journals might seem an unexpected fit for a lively pop-up. However, GML Gallery is about stories. So the recent Made in Singapore event allowed an exchange of stories of paintings by May Li, and stories shared by those who stopped to discover them.
Despite the warm, humid afternoon, May Li arrived in high spirits, eager to share some of her cherished collections. Among them was her newest painting, A Child of Changi (SG 61 National Day dedication), a piece inspired by the stillness and understated beauty of a place many passes by without a second thought. May Li transformed it into a moment worth pausing for, to feel, to reflect and to be absorbed by its beauty.
Her Singapore collection carries this same affectionate eye for the familiar. Pintu Pagar Cat features a Singapura cat lounging cheekily and entirely at home at the entrance of a Peranakan house. Symphony of Singapore gathers birds native to our island in a lively composition, celebrating the charm and melody they bring to our everyday landscape.
Then there is the Dreamscape collection of vivid destinations she dreamt of visiting during the pandemic, when travel was paused but the imagination soared freely. These pieces are gentle invitations to wander, to explore, and to immerse oneself in the freedom of distant lands.
May Li’s paintings find its ways into covers of exquisite journals. Wrapped in art, each journal offers its own quiet escapade: a personal sanctuary for reflections, spontaneous scribbles, ideas taking shape, or simply a cherished companion for the stories unfolding in our minds.
Meet May Li
May Li is not a conventional artist, and that is precisely what makes her work so distinctive and endearing. Self-taught and led by instinct, she dreams fiercely and paints with unbridled freedom. Her art is playful, expressive, and full of surprises—an honest reflection of her imaginative, dreamer’s mind and generous spirit.
For May Li, the most enjoyable part of the pop-up event is the conversations. She takes delight in every interaction with a curious onlooker, a tourist or a visitor. She enjoys a cheerful chat, an exchange of thoughts on art or simply what brought them there. She shares about the office manager who put much thoughts into selecting the right journals for his interns and a respected mentor. Then there was the story of a traveler who just wanted to bring a piece of Singapore heritage back home. And another story of someone mulling over the designs to select the best gift to inspire an overseas artist friend, not to mention so many like-minded ones who shares the same love for art and analogue journaling! Through stories and conversations, May Li shares the inspiration behind each piece of artwork. She cherished the opportunity in helping someone find the perfect gift for a person they care about. There is something quietly special about each piece of artwork finding its rightful owner.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our Made in Singapore pop-up and spent a little time with May Li and her work. Your presence made the event fun and meaningful. If you missed us this time, we hope you will join us at a future event. Come say hello, hear the stories behind the paintings, and perhaps discover a piece that speaks to your, bringing a little more wonder into your day.
Author: Shirley Ong, author of the Rainbow Tree Book Series
