Made by Hand

ARTIST STATEMENT

藝術家陳述

A photo of Malaysian women artist / illustrator who name OCMay (May) in Australia

The Mirror of the Silent:
Reflecting Our Interconnected Fate

My work is an act of "sampling" the world—a process of observing, absorbing, and mirroring the subtle pulse of our ecosystem. As an artist, I position myself as a quiet witness to the delicate equilibrium between humanity and the natural world, capturing the warning signals that often drift past the modern eye.

Through meticulous detail and symbolic storytelling, I explore the fragility of peace and the silent plight of endangered wildlife. My illustrations do not merely depict animals; they portray them as sentient observers of human history, reflecting our shared responsibility and the profound sense of belonging we risk losing.

Inspired by the profound intuition of our interconnectedness, I use my art as a clarion call. I invite viewers to slow down and enter a space of deep empathy, where the boundary between "human" and "nature" dissolves. My goal is to provoke a visual shock that awakens compassion, reminding us that the preservation of the wild is, in essence, the preservation of our own humanity.

靜默之鏡:反射命運的交織

我的創作是一場對世界的「採樣」 | 一個觀察、吸收並反射生態系統微弱脈搏的過程。作為藝術家,我將自己視為人類與自然之間脆弱平衡的靜默見證者,捕捉那些常被現代視線忽略的預警信號。

透過極致的細節與象徵性敘事,我探討和平的脆弱性以及瀕危物種的無聲困境。我的作品不僅是描繪動物,更是將牠們視為人類歷史的有情觀察者,反射出我們共同的責任,以及那份我們正冒著失去風險的深層歸屬感。

受萬物相連的直覺啟發,我將藝術視為一記號角。我邀請觀者放慢腳步,進入一個深層同理的空間,在那裡,「人類」與「自然」的界線消融。我的目標是引發一種喚醒慈悲心的視覺震撼,提醒我們:對荒野的守護,本質上是對我們自身人性的守護。

Artist Bio

Original illustration by OCMay. Two genderless figures with rainbow hair forming a heart, making a love gesture, surrounded by ocean waves, a whale, and two albatross with a peace flag.

藝術家簡介

OCMay is a Malaysian artist and visual storyteller whose practice serves as a sensitive mirror to the contemporary environment. Her work centers on the intricate emotional connections between humanity, endangered wildlife, and the shifting landscapes of the 21st century.

Drawing on her intuitive perception of environmental fragility, OCMay combines meticulous illustration with acrylic painting to create narratives that are both gentle and powerful. Her artistic voice acts as a "Clarion", translating complex ecological realities into symbolic imagery that advocates for global peace and conservation.

Based in the biodiversity-rich region of Southeast Asia, OCMay’s perspective is uniquely positioned to reflect on the global climate crisis through a local lens. Her work has been steadily recognized on international platforms and exhibited globally, resonating with those who seek a deeper, more empathetic connection with the natural world.

OCMay 是一位來自馬來西亞的藝術家與視覺敘事者,她的創作實踐如同反映當代環境的一面敏感之鏡。她的作品聚焦於人類、瀕危野生動物與 21 世紀變遷景觀之間錯綜複雜的情感連結。


憑藉對環境脆弱性的直覺感知,May 將細膩的插畫與壓克力繪畫相結合,創作出溫柔且具力量的敘事。她的藝術之聲如同一記「號角」,將複雜的生態現實轉化為象徵性意象,倡導全球和平與自然保育。


立足於生物多樣性豐富的東南亞,May 的視角具有獨特地位,能透過在地鏡頭反射全球氣候危機。她的作品已逐漸在國際平台上獲得認可並展出,與那些尋求與自然世界建立深層同理連結的人們產生共鳴。

Upcoming Art Fairs & Events

2026

即将参与的插画展会 / 活动

  • GAF Shanghai Illustration Art Expo - Shanghai, China 🇨🇳
    2026.05.01 (Fri) - 2026.05.03 (Sun) · Confirmed

  • Busan Illustration Fair (BIF) 釜山插画展 — Busan, South Korea 🇰🇷

    2026.11.6(Fri) - 2026.11.8(Sun) · Confirmed


  • Illustration Art Fair (IAF) 新加坡插画艺术博览会 — Singapore 🇸🇬

    3-5 July 2026 · Under consideration for application

  • Jakarta Illustration & Creative Arts Fair (JICAF) 雅加达插画与创意艺术展 — Jakarta, Indonesia 🇮🇩

    If shortlisted

  • Bangkok Illustration Fair (BKKIF) 曼谷插画展 — Bangkok, Thailand 🇹🇭

    Under consideration for application / If shortlisted - Since I participated last year, it might be hard to be shortlisted. (Not yet open call)

OCMay drawing a bear with a long tongue on a tablet, with stuffed animal toys in the background, including a tiger, Elmo, and a yellow big bird. The desk has a pencil box, with a sticker 'Doing what you like is freedom' and a cat sticker.

Behind the scene,
Taped Animals | Sun Bear

Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair KLIF 2025 Malaysia Artist / illustrator OCMay

🇲🇾 KLIF 2025
(Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair
OCMay participated in Singapore IAF (Illustration Art Fair) 2025 Malaysia Artist 2025

🇸🇬 IAF 2025
(Singapore)

Illustration Art Fair

🇹🇭 BKKIF 2025
(Thailand)

Bangkok Illustration Fair

Honor & Awards

Bronze A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design Category
↳ A' Design Award & Competition, Italy

2021


"Let's Get Better Together" featured by Behance

2019


"Origin"  featured by Behance

Winner of Nike AF1 Theory Lunar Force 1 14’ “White Ice” Customizations
↳ Hundred%, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Jacky Chan’s Police Story Sketching Competition – Consolation prize
↳ SafeTree, Malaysia

2014


2016

2014

  • Neon Magazine | Prime Media, France

  • Galerie Sakura | Paris, France

  • FIA World Endurance Championship | Isobar, France

  • Photoshop Tutorial magazine | Oracom, France

  • Love Entertainment, United States

  • Area 23 | New York, United States

  • The Monster Project | United States

  • Giulau | Italy

  • Whitetails (Wanda) | Beijing, China

  • JW Music | China / UK

  • Sendy Cakes | China

  • RJ Lin's Music | Taipei, Taiwan

  • Flip Flop Hostel | Taipei, Taiwan

  • Dozo Freesh | Japan / China

  • Adidas | Malaysia

  • Masses | Malaysia

  • Yakult | Malaysia

  • ClubAloha | Malaysia

  • Yes 5G, YTL | Malaysia

  • Kado | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • CapyEra | Maker and Maven Enterprise, Malaysia

  • Genting Highlands, Malaysia

  • Mixue, Malaysia

Clients

Exhibition

2025 : THE POSTER BUSAN 2025, Busan, Korea 🇰🇷

2025 : Kecik-kecik Group Show 2025, Penang, Malaysia 🇲🇾

2023 : 《有春天》上海图书馆 | Shanghai, China 🇨🇳

2022 : 《国际插画艺术节·100位插画家联展》Guangzhou Illustration Art Festival Exhibition | Guangzhou, China 🇨🇳

2021 : Sneakers Generation | Galerie Sakura, Paris, France 🇫🇷

2021 : 《We Care, We Change》(Group), 流浪動物公益救助活動,A4 國際駐留藝術中心,Chengdu, China 🇨🇳

2015 : Incite Exhibition | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🇲🇾

2014 : “Origin” Exhibition  | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🇲🇾

2013 : KLSG Sport Exhibition | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 🇲🇾

Published


Hightone 🇭🇰

Fantasy of Illustration 《插畫幻想力》, page 167-169

2021

Capsule Book 🇦🇺

< PICTORIA 3 - The Best Contemporary Illustrators Worldwide >,page 38-39


2019

Oracom 🇫🇷

Photoshop Tutorial Magazine, HS14, pages 7-13

2018

Interested in collaborations, commissions, or prints?
Let’s talk!

📩

ohseemay@gmail.com

Open to exhibitions, editorial requests, and creative projects.