Amaya Shen

To look at art, for me, is to dive into oneself: to look closely at my interior lining (I imagine my soul as folds of brocade and at turns silk; compressing, flowing free and wide –then twisting taut as a wire string) to scratch at who I am, how I was made, and also through…

Recently I was gifted with some wonderful poetry, and it has just filled me with an aching love and tenderness. It was a book in my hand, but I felt as if I was cradling a small baby bird, not yet knowing it could fly. It made me remember again how beautiful (and wondrous) all…

Contrary to popular belief, I maintain the assertion that ignorance is not a passive thing: it is active (see: confirmation bias is such an example of the active reinforcement of certain ideas, including ignorance or absence of information by avoidance). The great thing about film and books, for me, above all is that it is…

I’ve been spending days listening to music and reading, and frankly, there are moments I put down my book, and drift through the music, come back and think: ‘I’m so content’. Can I suspend this moment in crystalline time? Sun streaming through the windows, music in the air, birds a-chittering, book in hand. Perfect. Of…

Currently I am reading parts of On Liberty, and this particular phrase struck me which I wish to share: “That mankind are not infallible; that their truths, for the most part, are only half-truths; that unity of opinion, unless resulting from the fullest and freest comparison of opposite opinions, is not desirable, and diversity not…

During our date, my friend was very intrigued: he pressed Why Amaya? I could tell he was very attached to ‘Serena Woo’, and indeed, of course: it was whom he had built our relationship with, the identity that was known, and the very name that grounded the woman in front of him as he knew…

Dear friends and lovers, wouldn’t it be an understatement (to those who know me) that it has been awhile? I had an extended and unexplained absence, but really, it’s just me being absolutely preoccupied with (1) uni, (2) moving to a new city, and (3) re-thinking what I want to do in this industry. I…

It has been a while, and though I had other writing plans, I did not think I could go forward with them in light of the events just passed. I felt a duty to acknowledge, and a desire to not remain silent. That day I woke up late. Blissful stretching and slow wakefulness. No classes…

Listening to some iconic 60s while writing this (‘God is alive Magic is afoot’ which was written by Leonard Cohen, but turned into a song by Buffy Sainte-Marie)…. So, I have some news to share which is now official: I will be moving on from the industry in New Zealand soon. I have been offered…

The full photo from the home page…the sign of a new set to be added to the gallery soon!💞