Works on Paper

Our Schemas: The Silent Muse

Schemas are mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information, shaping how we perceive the world and respond to new experiences. They allow us to make quick sense of complex stimuli by drawing on past knowledge and patterns. As an artist studying human behavior, schemas are fascinating because they reveal how deeply personal and cultural experiences shape perception. In abstract art, viewers naturally rely on these mental shortcuts to search for familiar shapes, patterns, and emotional cues—even when none are intentionally present. This creates a dynamic tension between recognition and ambiguity, where familiar frameworks are both activated and disrupted.

This idea resonates deeply with Lam's fascination with the minimalism and masterful precision of Chinese and Japanese characters. Each stroke is simple and intentional, yet it carries profound layers of meaning shaped by cultural and historical context. Similarly, in her own work, single strokes hold weight and depth, creating a visual language that reflects both simplicity and complexity. Engaging with abstraction challenges these mental patterns, encouraging viewers to expand their cognitive and emotional flexibility—just as the elegance of a single character can unfold into a rich narrative of meaning and history.