Artistry, Biophilia Beauty & Finding Equilibrium | Jon Ching

Ep. 137:

Today on Mushroom Hour we are graced by the presence of one of my favorite biophiliacs and artists -Jon Ching. Jon grew up steeped in natural beauty on the island of O’ahu, Hawai’i, which formed the foundation of his deep fascination with the natural and wild world. A self-taught painter, Jon’s devoted art practice and detailed realism is inspired by the interconnectedness of nature. While dedicated to the minute idiosyncrasies of flora and fauna, Jon’s work is a surreal imagining of what limitless wonders and combinations nature can produce. New creatures and symbioses emerge in his meticulously rendered oil paintings, exemplifying the endless potential of life on Earth. His work is often driven by his personal desire to find balance between the human and natural worlds, exploring themes of symbiosis and searching for connections, physical and metaphorical, across nature’s kingdoms. Highlighting man-made threats to the natural world are a regular theme in his work to raise awareness of and evoke compassion for the kingdoms of life. Jon’s ultimate hope is to inspire love and admiration for the universally unique beauty and intrigue of our world.

TOPICS COVERED:

Childhood in Hawaii as Inspiration
Unlocking Biological Imagination
Powers of Observation
Impact of Becoming a Father
Slowing Down
Communicating Ecological Messages Through Artwork
Fungi Finding Their Way onto the Canvas
Navigating the Professional Art World
Gallery Shows
Materials, Process and Timeline of Creating Paintings
From Paintings to Murals
Future Projects
WTF NFTs
Finding Equilibrium with Natural Systems

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Jon Ching Website: https://jonchingart.com/
Jon Ching IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonchingart/
Jon Ching FB: https://www.facebook.com/JonChingArt
Jon Ching @ Beinart Gallery: https://beinart.org/collections/jon-ching
Hericium erinaceus (AKA Lions Mane): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium_erinaceus