Pho’s ‘Soul Searching’ and the Art of Finding Peace in the Unknown
In “Soul Searching,” Pho invites us into a scene that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. A lone figure drifts across an endless expanse of water, suspended between tranquility and introspection. "I’ve always felt like I didn’t belong," Pho reflects, "and that led me on a constant search for a place that felt like home. That tranquility came after searching for many years; the boat finally slowed down, and I realized I can make my own place where I belong through my art." Here, the boat — gently rocked by unseen currents — becomes both a symbol of isolation and a vessel of self-acceptance.
This artwork draws from Pho’s dreams, lending it a hauntingly subconscious quality. “I’ve had a dream where I was in a boat wandering aimlessly quite a few times,” he explains, “but it also reflects my mindset.” His recurring vision of aimless drifting, combined with an ongoing journey toward self-acceptance, forms the essence of “Soul Searching.” The scene exudes a serenity born of surrender, echoing the Romantic concept of the sublime — a state where beauty and fear, the known and the unknown, coexist. This recalls J.M.W. Turner’s seascapes, particularly “The Fighting Temeraire,” where Turner’s depiction of a lone ship at twilight becomes a metaphor for transformation and life’s fleeting nature. Much like Turner, Pho explores the tension between human vulnerability and the vast, indifferent forces of the universe.
Pho’s evolving style, which he describes as “abstract multimedia” or sometimes playfully as “pho-ism,” is an integral part of this exploration. “I try to throw as many mediums as I can onto the canvas in order to properly capture what I see in my head,” he shares, and this layering approach reflects the complexity of his inner world. Embracing chaos theory, Pho confronts the illusion of control, suggesting that even life’s smallest choices can ripple outward, shaping one’s path in unexpected ways. This concept is woven into the artwork’s textures and tones, where structure and spontaneity collide to mirror life’s unpredictable nature.
For Pho, “Soul Searching” is not just a depiction of a dream but a culmination of life’s lessons. “I am a student of life,” he says, crediting his constant “leap of faith” and relentless experimentation as forces that drive his art. It’s not a single experience or person but a rich tapestry of experiences that shapes him. His openness to exploration — even through substances — has expanded his creative language and intensified his drive to push boundaries.
In “Soul Searching,” Pho masterfully merges the introspective and the expansive, crafting a scene where control dissolves and peace emerges from surrender. The lone figure in the boat represents both his personal journey and our collective, timeless search for meaning. Like Turner’s solitary ships or the vast skies of the Romantics, Pho’s work reminds us that fulfillment comes not from reaching a final destination but from embracing the journey itself, with all its chaotic beauty.
