Chinese Characters & Mahjong Series
Mahjong Series: 竹 Bamboo
Acrylic on canvas
16 × 20 inches
The final piece for The Four Gentlemen 四君子 or Flower Tiles 花牌 in mahjong is Bamboo 竹.
Associated with summer, bamboo embodies vigor and uprightness. In Confucian philosophy, bamboo possesses qualities that scholars consider the pillars of virtue. Its stalks are straight yet flexible; they bend under the storm and wind without breaking, embodying adaptability and strength. Its heart is hollow, symbolizing humility that remains open to learning. It is a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity and a living metaphor for flexibility without moral compromise.
The evergreen bamboo symbolizes the scholar's fidelity to his principles, whatever the seasons. In Chinese literary art, bamboo holds a significant place as a silent philosophical declaration. It is the mirror of the junzi 君子; the embodiment of a gentleman with integrity that every scholar aspires to become.
Mahjong Series: 菊 Chrysanthemum
Acrylic on canvas
16 × 20 inches
The third in the Flower Tiles 花牌 series is the Chrysanthemum 菊花. In Chinese culture, no poet is more identified with the chrysanthemum than Tao Yuanming (陶淵明, also known as Tao Qian 陶潛 365–427). Having retired from official life to tend his garden, he elevated the flower into an enduring symbol of reclusion, moral integrity, and independence.
His famous fifth poem beautifully captures the essence of his pastoral life:
採菊東籬下，悠然見南山。
I pluck chrysanthemums beneath the eastern fence, And leisurely, I gaze upon the southern mountains.
This simple act of gathering flowers became a literary shorthand for a mind detached from worldly ambition, epitomizing those who content with a simple, contemplative life and remain true to themselves. Blooming in late autumn and early winter, a chilly season when most other flora withers, the chrysanthemum represents tranquility, maturity and the resilience to thrive in harsh conditions.
Mahjong Series: 兰 Orchid
Acrylic on canvas
16 × 20 inches
The Four Gentlemen 四君子 or Flower Tiles 花牌 in mahjong typically feature four distinct plants. In the Chinese culture, they are symbols of moral integrity.
The next in this series is Orchid 蘭花 or 兰花 in simplified Chinese. The orchid represents spring and the Confucian ideal of an upright, noble person. It symbolizes humility, purity, and personal integrity. Orchids naturally thrive deep within secluded valleys, far from the admiration of others as they release their subtle fragrance. Their elegant growth symbolizes a refined character that does not seek fame or applause, and a quiet virtue that is intrinsic.
Mahjong Series: 梅 Plum Blossom
Acrylic on canvas
16 × 20 inches
The Four Gentlemen 四君子 or Flower Tiles 花牌 in mahjong typically feature four distinct plants. In the Chinese culture, they are symbols of moral integrity.
One of them is the Plum Blossom 梅花, which represents resilience, perseverance and renewal. This delicate, late winter bloom is revered because it is one of the earliest tree flowers to emerge, while winter still lingers and most other plants remain dormant.
Mahjong flower tiles are special bonus tiles that are set aside immediately when drawn and replaced from the wall, rather than being used to form sets. And just like all the beautiful things you receive, you simply hold onto them.
Birth/Alive 生 2026
Acrylic on canvas
80 × 100 cm
The Chinese character 生 means birth and alive. It primarily signifies life, growth, and existence. While it encompasses various concepts related to birth, development and survival, it mainly denotes the state of being alive.
The character 生 which is originally a compound ideogram, represents the emergence of a plant from the earth, symbolizing the beginning of a new life cycle. In ancient oracle bone script, the character portrays a sprouting plant, with a horizontal stroke below symbolizing the ground and a bifurcation above representing the plant's branches and leaves.
Blending intentional planning with singular definitive strokes, I attempt to capture the spontaneous and visceral nature of birth, the orderly and geometric elegance of growth, and the miracle of life.
Birth/Alive
msolikin
There’s a sacred quality
about birth.
The moment
when nothing becomes
alive.
Is the path destined
before or after birth?
Is there a choice
to grow and become?
The miracle of life.
Mahjong Series: 發 Faat no.4 2025
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Private Collection
The Faat Series is available in
Limited Edition Prints
There are 4 of identical tiles for each mahjong tile. A collection of these identical tiles is called 槓 Gong. This concludes the 發 Faat series.
Mahjong Series: 發 Faat no.3 2025
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Private Collection
When you win a mahjong game, is it because of the art of strategy or the precision of calculated execution or just pure luck?
Mahjong Series: 發 Faat no.2 2025
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Private Collection
My previous profession dealt with financial numbers and calculations. These works reflect the part of me which craves precision, clarity and predictability.
Mahjong Series: 發 Faat no.1 2025
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Private Collection
In mahjong, 發 Faat belongs to the Dragon Tiles 三元牌 which are under the Honour Tiles 字牌. The Dragon Tiles are some of the most important and meaningful tiles. The green colour signifies sincerity while the character symbolizes prosperity and wealth, often linked to the saying “to strike it rich”.
Mahjong Series: 發 Faat no.1, 2, 3, 4 2025
Acrylic mahjong tiles
6.3 x 8.3 x 2.5 cm
When canvas turns to tiles
When you hear the sparrows chirping
When you can hold it close
When fortune knocks at your door
心 Heart Variation 1 2025
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
Mother’s Choice HK Charity Auction Private Collection
As an image appears there are many possibilities how it will manifest as a painting. It is a process of choosing the medium, the technique, colour combinations, the size of the canvas, etc .. As a series of decisions are made, there’s a lingering feeling, pondering and imagining the different outcome if the other possibility was chosen instead. So out of this tugging feeling, a variation is born. This piece is a variation of the earlier work using another style. A style which has been urging me to reveal itself.
心 Heart 2025
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
Private Collection
Available in Limited Edition Prints
I asked myself what this word means to me. The answer is not words but the sound of the first heart beats of my children from the ultrasound scan. It means the beginning. Each heart beat is a new moment of beginning. What does this word mean to you?
Geometric shapes have always interest me. The construction of this piece is based on Fibonacci sequence. I’m amazed how nature is able to create mathematically derived shapes. There is order and harmony in the randomness.
Heart
msolikin
Delicate as a flower
Strong as steel
A new beginning
In every beat
Mahjong 2023
Acrylic on canvas
30 x 40 inches
Available in Limited Edition Prints
Mahjong is the same and different for everyone. Triumph, defeat, frustration, laughter, regret, excitement and delight.
Mahjong anyone?
宋 Song 2024
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches
Private Collection
The colours of this piece are inspired by 千里江山圖 (A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains) by 王希孟 (Wang Ximeng) painted during the Song Dynasty (宋朝 960-1279) which was a time of prosperity and advancement. It uses the blue-green shan shui (青綠山水) Chinese painting style with blues and greens as main colours using the scarce mineral pigments azurite and malachite to depict the peaceful and prosperous country. This masterpiece by Wang Ximeng is one of the ten most famous Chinese paintings in history (中國十大名畫) and is in the permanent collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing.
家 Home 2023
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 24 inches
Private Collection
Home: a place of warmth and strength
Wooden tones for strength
Red tones for warmth
香 Hong Kong 2023
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches
Available in Limited Edition Prints
A tribute to Hong Kong’s vibrancy and resilience. It represents the iconic symbol of Hong Kong: a wooden junk boat with red sails on a blue sea.
家 Home 2022
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches
Private Collection
樂 Joy 2022
Acrylic on canvas
24 x 30 inches