By Caroline Roosevelt
Contributing Writer

On a recent trip to her hometown of Chen Du in the Southwest region of China, Chester County-based artist and photographer Jie Deng visited her family and reflected on the passage of time as it affected those whom she loves. 

It was that visit that serves as a seed of inspiration for her upcoming exhibition, entitled “Hue of Memories” that will open at Shish Interiors in Centreville, Del. on Nov. 20.

Deng’s father had suffered a stroke several years ago that rendered it difficult for him to communicate. Once a biochemistry professor and published author, Deng’s father turned to collage as a way of preserving memories and communicating. Less a deliberate art form and more a way of documenting, he created intricate collages that serves as the artistic backbone to the theme of his daughter’s exhibition.

Deng explained that she doesn’t visit her native China often, and when she sees her parents, she notes the passage of time and feels the experience of separation with every visit. To complicate matters, her sister lives in Canada, which means the visits the parents have with their daughters are few and far between, leaving Jie’s mother is her fathers’ defacto caretaker. On her month-long stay, Deng noted the challenges that befall a spouse/caretaker role and how it impacts the relationship.

The experience led Jie to contemplate aging as a universal concept and a very personal one. 

Her daughter is currently in high school and in two years, will be heading off the college. The line of thinking is contagious, and I start to think about it too, as my children have both started daycare. It’s a heavy thought – one’s own impermanence - but one that has, throughout time, sparked beautiful art, writing, film and music.

“Hue of Memories” explores the existential questions which have brought pause to humans since the beginning of consciousness. The collection will take visitors through four different themes of aging and their attributes as illuminated by Deng and contributing artists Jill Beech, Katee Boyle, C. C. Czerwinski, Lauren Peters and Samara Weaver. Each phase will have a color attributed to it and will reflect on the beauty, the energy and the challenges of the human experience.

Jie Deng’s “The Hue of Memories” will be on exhibit from Nov. 20-23 at Shish Interiors, 5716 Kennett Pike, Suite M, Centreville, Del. 19807. A reception will be held on Nov. 22 from 4 to 7 p.m.