There’s something wonderfully strange about Jon Ching’s paintings. His fantastical hybrid creatures seem to have wandered out of a dream, combining birds, mammals, fish, flowers, and elemental forces into richly detailed worlds. Inspired by growing up surrounded by the nature of O’ahu, Hawai’i, the Los Angeles-based artist continues to find endless inspiration, comfort, and a little bit of magic in the natural world.
His upcoming solo exhibition, Path of Least Resistance at KP Projects, brings together new paintings of owls, hummingbirds, fish, orchids, and other fascinating creatures. But these aren’t simply beautiful nature studies. Ching’s metaphysical paintings explore ideas of strength, resilience, cooperation, and hope, reflecting both the challenges of recent years and his experiences with parenthood and partnership.
What makes the collection especially interesting is how organically many of the paintings came together. Ching often starts with a sketch without knowing exactly where it will lead. Some ideas completely transform along the way, while others seem to arrive almost fully formed. As he puts it, some pieces “seemed to float down from the muses.”
Nature also carries plenty of symbolism throughout these metaphysical paintings. Rocks suggest stability and endurance, while water represents both resistance and support. Rather than fighting every obstacle head-on, water finds another way around it.
And maybe that’s the real idea behind Path of Least Resistance: sometimes resilience isn’t about pushing harder. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to move, adapt, and let nature show you the way.
