Nature’s Whispers, Echoes in Prints – Malaysian Print Artist Phyllis Chua
“Art is the echo of life’s journey.” From Malaysia to Taipei, print artist Phyllis Chua has crossed borders of geography and culture, bringing diverse perspectives into her creations. Her works are explorations and conversations, woven with ink, watercolor, and fineliners into vivid compositions.
Growing up surrounded by gardens and fabrics, with a father who cultivated orchids and a mother who sewed, Chua’s childhood home was filled with blossoms outside and textiles inside. Nature and fabric became inseparable materials and emotional anchors in her life. From these experiences, she distilled the beauty of coexistence between people and plants. Sometimes her creative impulses are conscious, such as researching traditions and festivals to transform them into motifs. At other times, they emerge unconsciously through emotions and colors that flow directly onto the page.
Her practice extends beyond works on paper. Because original paintings are rare, she transforms them into prints, turning scarves, bedding, and cushions into accessible forms of living art. Through this, she brings art closer to daily life while expressing harmony with nature and a sense of inner grounding. She hopes that both her paintings and her prints convey the beauty of the natural world and the vitality of a free spirit. To her, green represents vitality and hope, a reminder of joy, freedom, and balance between people and their environment.
Looking ahead, Chua seeks to create layered visual effects with printed fabrics and to take part in more international exhibitions and collaborations. She envisions shows that combine original artworks with printed garments, bedding, and furniture, creating a space that feels like home. Just as her father’s garden and her mother’s fabrics shaped her early life, she continues to blur the boundary between art and daily living. From canvas to print, from the intimacy of home to the expansiveness of exhibitions, she transforms life’s energy into tangible aesthetic experiences, revealing the ongoing connection between nature, art, and everyday life.
“In my vibrant paintings, I seek to convey the power of life, the spirit of freedom, and the abundance of body, mind, and soul.”
Phyllis Chua
Phyllis Chua, born in Malaysia and now based in Taipei, is a multidisciplinary artist as well as an accomplished original print pattern designer. She founded her own brand, Phyllis van CHUA, in the summer of 2016. Her designs draw inspiration from both Eastern and Western cultural arts while blending the vitality of nature, presenting a wide range of classical and elegant print styles. Her works have been exhibited in many cities around the world, widely collected and admired, and have also been licensed for use in the textile and fashion industries. She has collaborated with fashion designers to participate in Taipei Fashion Week. Phyllis has also served as an artist-in-residence at the Xinwawu Hui-Ke Market in Zhubei City, Hsinchu County.
