'Memory, present experience, and imagination are where the painting happens' | Su Su Timestamp

Born in China and now based in New York, Su Su is a painter whose work explores memory, migration, perception, and emotional connection through painting. Raised in a traditional Manchurian family, she grew up surrounded by calligraphy, storytelling, craftsmanship, and the belief that art is inseparable from everyday life. “Painting or art should be just the things you do, who you are,” she reflects, describing a practice shaped by both cultural inheritance and contemporary life in New York. In this studio visit, Su shares how her childhood in Beijing and her relationship with her grandfather formed her understanding of art as something lived rather than performed. From watching calligraphy brushed onto stone with water each morning to hearing stories about the hidden structures of the Forbidden City, she learned to see creativity as a system beneath the visible surface. “What you look at on the surface has a system built underneath,” she explains, connecting painting to memory, labor, and human experience. After studying theater and scenic design in China and later at Carnegie Mellon University, Su developed a multidisciplinary approach that continues to shape her work today. Following a severe health crisis that forced her away from theater, she devoted herself entirely to painting. “I cannot commit my full responsibility and intention to anything else aside from painting anymore,” she recalls. Drawing inspiration from places like Canal Street, Greenpoint, Central Park, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Su transforms ordinary spaces and objects into emotionally charged paintings tied to memory and belonging. Rice becomes a symbol of childhood comfort, while familiar city spaces become reflections on identity, migration, and community. “The environment has really strong emotional charge,” she says, describing how places and objects carry psychological and cultural meaning. For Su, painting is ultimately about connection. Through layered surfaces, drifting paint, and deeply personal imagery, her work invites viewers into shared spaces of memory, perception, and emotional experience. --- Explore more of Su Su's work here: Instagram:   / susu_public   Website: https://www.artbysusu.com/ -- Filmed and produced by Timestamp - documenting artists, ideas, and creative lives around the world. Timestamp is an arts education organization dedicated to bringing the contemporary art world to a global audience. We create a documentary series that goes beyond the artwork to explore the minds and practices of contemporary artists around the world. Through intimate, cinematic interviews and immersive visuals, we document the personal philosophies, studio rituals, and emotional landscapes that shape the art of our time, creating a vital educational resource for all. To continue this mission and keep this educational content accessible, we rely on the generosity of donations and sponsorships. Your support directly funds the production of these insightful films, ensuring the next generation of artists and enthusiasts can learn from the masters of today. © Copyright Timestamp Art, LLC. 2026. — Want to support Timestamp? Donate here! https://buymeacoffee.com/mgmttimestz — Read the full story here: https://timestamp-art.com/ — Timestamp - Interviews with the art world. Website: https://timestamp-art.com/ Instagram:   / time____stamp   TikTok:   / time____stamp   Learn more: https://beacons.ai/time____stamp Listen to Timestamp interviews on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/76yZVdQ... — Help support Timestamp (we're an Amazon Associate) when you buy art supplies with our affiliate links (we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you): Painting Supplies Shop for Acrylic Paint: https://amzn.to/43UkZLA Shop for Oil Paint: https://amzn.to/469Oha5 Shop for Canvas: https://amzn.to/4nG9q1I Shop for Brushes: https://amzn.to/4nJQJdQ — #SuSu #ArtistInterview #Timestamp