ABOUT ME
Hello! I'm Irene! Thank you so much for visiting my website! So a little bit about myself. I was born in Irvine, California and raised in Taipei, Taiwan; schooled at Wellesley College for my BA degree, then Columbia Business School for my MBA degree. My professional background is in the branding, marketing, and public relations fields. But this website is not about that. I created this platform to share with you some of my inspirations and creative pursuits.
MUSIC
My music journey began as early as my Kindergarten days, when I started playing the piano. I later on picked up the flute when I was in the 4th grade, because I was mesmerized by the celestial sounds of the flute. Around that time, I started playing around with composing music, without formal training. I was first inspired to compose by Yanni, whose music my Dad introduced me to. I later on draw most of my influences from easy-listening piano music by Taipei-based independent record label, Wind Music (風潮音樂), as well as minimalist composers including Yann Tiersen, Philip Glass, and Ludovico Einaudi, to name a few.
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In terms of how I approach composing, I tend to do so rather intuitively; I rarely take a structural approach. Instead, my composing process usually just involves me, sitting in front of the piano, exploring different major and minor keys to find which one resonates with me the most, at that specific moment. Then I would start to play some melodies here and there. Usually the melodies come to me rather effortlessly. The difficult part is in the subsequent development sections, as well as the elaborate details that add complexity and richness to the composition.
ART
My art journey began much later. I did not start painting until I began working. I only paint abstract paintings because I find that I can express myself better via abstract works of art. Also, I value how abstract works engage with audiences. Due to the absence of form, the painting functions like a mirror that reflects back to the viewer whatever he/she is feeling. In this sense, abstract paintings are living forms of art, with an ever-evolving meaning, which I find absolutely fascinating!
I primarily draw on my spiritual experiences (Zen Buddhism and Osho's teachings) as inspirations for my art. These inspirations are reflected in the titles and descriptions I give for my paintings. I also approach painting as a spiritual practice, in a way, where I can channel my excess energy and find inner balance.
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Enjoy!