About the artist, Clara Chiu
My story, my process
"This editing phase is where rediscovery takes place. I notice elements I missed in the field: light fragments, unexpected symmetry, patterns, and emotional tone. I edit minimally, usually just making a purposeful crop. I carefully create the composition in a way that highlights the essence of the image, revealing the abstract qualities that moved me to capture it in the first place.
Although my work begins with photography, it frequently blurs the line between mediums. I print on archival rag paper for a tactile, painterly look and experiment with different substrates. In addition, my work blurs the line between strict realism and abstraction. I employ visual metaphors, images that invite interpretation. For me, water becomes a metaphor for memory, transformation, and the passage of time."
"For example, in my work called Meandering Trees, I see meandering trees in the water reflection, but obviously it was the river that was meandering, not the trees themselves. Another piece of work entitled The Pond, is a photo of water reflections in Lane Cove River, but the stillness of the patterns of water creates an image of a peaceful pond. The title of my work Water In Flames cannot be read literally, but the opposing concepts of fire and water did, for a moment, appear before my eyes."
"At the heart of my practice is the pursuit of stillness, clarity, creative interpretation, and, most importantly, healing. I hope to evoke more than just beauty; I hope to offer space, a pause, a moment of calm amidst the noise. It is my deepest wish that my work provides viewers with a sense of peace, connection, and quiet healing that transcends everyday life."
Clara Chiu, the artist
From a young age, Clara was mentored in photography by her father, an experienced photographer. Some of her earliest memories are of helping him set up his tripod, holding the light meter, and sometimes even posing for his portraits. The father and daughter often went on photography trips together, where they would quietly take in their surroundings, sometimes engaging in a playful competition as they captured and shared their perspectives. Clara’s father was a man of few words, but through photography, they connected in ways words could not express.
The death of her father in early 2024 profoundly shaped her perspective and strengthened her connection to the medium. One day, whilst she was still very much grieving, she started taking photos of the shifting forms and patterns of water near the Art Gallery of New South Wales. This marked the beginning of her water photography and current business, Jōzen Art.
Living on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, with its waterfronts and seascapes, Clara captures nature’s fluid, ever-changing essence with a bold and intentional style. Her images seek to evoke healing and connection, blurring the line between reality and abstraction. Through reflections, ripples, and shifting light, she explores water as a metaphor for memory, transformation, and the passage of time—each piece imbued with resilience, freedom, and hope.
Beyond her personal practice, Clara Chiu contributes to the arts community through exhibitions and charitable work. She raised funds as a portrait photographer for the Hong Kong Cancer Fund in 2021; she began exhibiting at the Greenwich Village Arts Trail since 2024. Her work Sunset In Miyazaki was selected as Finalist for the SOHO Art Prize 2025. She is the winner of the Emerging Artist Prize of the inaugural Lifeline Art Show North Sydney (2025) for her work Meandering Trees, and her work Meditation By Sand And Water was selected as Finalist at the same event.