A mother’s love, painted
Taiwan-born artist Yueh Faye Lai found solace and inspiration during the lockdown in the serene garden of her daughter, Nanette Medved-Po. Her world was transformed into a canvas of nature’s wonders: squirrels scampering up bamboo stalks, leaves swirling in stormy weather, frogs serenading amid philodendrons and anahaw, and mantises stalking caterpillars among banana leaves.
For nearly two decades since her retirement, Lai has dedicated herself to painting. Her exhibition at Manila House, running until Nov. 30, showcases 12 works on rice paper.
Her skill in brushwork is evident in pieces ranging from classic Chinese pen-and-ink calligraphy to expressive washes of black and gray depicting crashing waves and textured tree trunks. She also realistically renders animals, flowers, and even a close-up of a fish face.
One particularly poignant piece captures the sadness of a withered leaf found in a Laguna farm, while another is a triptych of a tree stump showing the ridges of time. Lai also experiments with a spray gun to create a speckled effect, evoking a sandstorm.
Lai’s paintings offer a glimpse into her unique perspective, capturing the joy, tranquility, and even melancholy found in the natural world.
Exemplar of independence
An exemplar of independence and active living, Lai, despite living alone as an octogenarian, has consistently refused offers from her daughter for cooked meals and a helper. She believes that housework is her fountain of youth.
“I feel useful,” she said. “A life of constant care may be comfortable, but it’s not beneficial for physical and mental well-being.”
Initially, Lai was hesitant to stay at the Po residence during the pandemic. However, her daughter pleaded with her to prioritize her safety, urging her to join the family instead of staying alone in her condo during the strict lockdowns.
This unexpected period turned out to be a rewarding experience. Lai continued her passion for painting, and spent evenings sharing stories with her two grandsons. Inspired by the garden’s wildlife, she created imaginative tales, often featuring the squirrels as mischievous musketeers. Her grandsons eagerly awaited the next episode of her stories.
The exhibit, “A Daughter’s Promise,” continues a family legacy. Lai promised her father Lai You Sun to showcase his artworks, but he died before fulfilling this wish. To honor his memory, the Yuchengco Museum organized an exhibition on his 110th birth anniversary in 2015. The exhibit, “Painted Memories: The Works of Lai You Sun and Yueh Faye Lai,” showcased 36 Chinese brush paintings and calligraphy by two generations of Chinese artists.
A self-taught artist, Lai You Sun defied conventional art education, mastering techniques through sheer determination. His prolific body of work, consisting of nearly 400 paintings, was bequeathed to his daughter.
Self-taught
Growing up in Taiwan, Lai studied under renowned masters but was largely self-taught in contemporary painting techniques. She put her artistic pursuits on hold while living abroad and raising her daughter. After retiring and moving to the Philippines, she rekindled her passion for painting.
Lai has accumulated a vast body of work, previously unseen by anyone outside her family. “A Daughter’s Promise” commemorated her 81st birthday last Nov. 12, mirroring the earlier exhibition that honored her father.
Just as Lai You Sun passed his legacy to his daughter, Lai has dedicated her work to her daughter who will eventually pass it on to her sons. “It’s my love for Nanette. Everything I do—my thoughts, deeds, and will—is for her. That’s my promise,” she expressed. “She has been genuinely caring for all that she has been doing for me. I greatly appreciate it.”
Lai admires her daughter’s “beautiful mind,” and her achievements in providing education, environmental conservation, food security, and social initiatives. “She is a divine soul and my precious treasure,” she said.
Medved-Po has seen the evolution of her mother’s art. “I find a unifying theme, regardless of style. There’s always joy and positivity in it. When she paints, she goes into a space within her that uses the world in a way that she would like to see it. The world is not always like that. She draws from that part of her which is joyful and positive.”
