A Place Kept (Jiaoyu Wu)

This painting is inspired by the fisherman’s wharf in Richmond, where I often notice quiet, everyday scenes surrounded by dense plants and water. The house sits within the landscape, partly hidden by trees and flowers, creating a feeling of being both present and slightly removed. I was thinking about how a place can hold memory over time — something familiar, but also distant. Through layered colors and detailed textures, I wanted to create a space that feels calm, enclosed, and quietly alive