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By bringing in a little bit of home into her art, Shan Shan Lim creates a style that captures the connection between culture, heritage and gratitude. Her work showcases a balance of simplicity and the complex nature of childhood memories.
@shanshanlimstudios shapes her art by drawing from the world around her, occasionally using recurring organic shapes such as circles to represent the cyclical nature of life.
Read ahead and join us in understanding the process behind Shan Shan Lim’s creations.
Hey Shan Shan, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist/creator?
I'm a Textile Design graduate from Central Saint Martins, with a focus on weaving and print, though my creative path began long before formal training. Growing up in a home shaped by design — my father, an architect, and my late mother, a graphic designer — I was always encouraged to explore art. My work is influenced by experiences across cultures, from my early years in the Himalayas to my studies in London. I’ve showcased in exhibitions in Malaysia, Singapore, London, and Helsinki.
How have these different cultural environments influenced your artistic perspective, and how do they show up in your work?
They’ve had a subtle but profound impact on my work. Growing up in the Himalayas, I was deeply influenced by the local artisans. I learned about how Gandhi used the act of weaving khadi cloth to unite a nation and resist British colonialism. When I was working with the Harris loom in London, I kept a photo of Gandhi nearby as a reminder of the power of my craft. In London, I was introduced to ikat, a technique from Malaysia. I found ways to innovate and push the boundaries of this tradition thousands of miles from home. Distance brings perspective.
Looking back at your journey from your early years to now, how has your style and approach evolved? Are there any pivotal moments or projects that shaped this evolution?
I’ve learned that the essence of an idea can be more powerful when distilled down to its most basic form. One pivotal moment was returning to Malaysia after several years in London. It was a leap of faith, but when I saw my work translated into textiles, mural walls, and even notebooks, I felt a sense of pride and ownership. I was able to fully embrace my voice as an artist.
How would you describe your artistic style and influences?
My style is rooted in simplicity and the organic flow of shapes, capturing life’s inherent balance and beauty. I find inspiration in the natural world, especially in elements that reflect transience – the way flowers bloom, wither, and return to the earth. Artists such as Hilma af Klint and Georgia O’Keeffe have greatly influenced me. They both have a way of connecting metaphysical ideas with organic forms. My work is an ongoing exploration of the subtle moments and memories that shape who we are.
Whether consciously or not, my motifs act as characters, tied to specific feelings and often reappearing across my work organically. The forms I draw are very primal. I think the most common shape has been the circle: a symbol of unity, completion, death and rebirth, the sun and the moon, the eternal. It’s like the single seed from which all my floral motifs emerge. It starts as a dot and it evolves into an entity over time. This simple form mirrors our own journey as humans, our potential to grow, transform, and return to our core. The circle holds everything within it, known and unknown, material and metaphysical. It reflects our constant pursuit to understand ourselves and the universe, always beginning again, always expanding outward.
Are there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey through the cover?
Turning Over Old Leaves: In order to know oneself better, sometimes we have to look towards our roots, culture, upbringing, old memories and connect the dots. Turning Over Old Leaves is inspired by the sensation of flipping through childhood diaries and old family albums, where you encounter memories that seem to connect in unexpected ways. It’s a reminder that we’re all shaped by the places, people, and experiences that we carry with us, and by looking back, we gain a richer understanding of ourselves.
Stars Aligned: This particular artwork reminds me of when planets and stars align, and things in life flow in the direction that they’re meant to. I suppose that it embodies the essence of gratitude. This painting was created with an older digitally illustrated series in mind — ‘Prints of May’, a series which birthed my signature overlapping of motifs and colours. I wanted an updated 2.0 version so I decided to recreate that harmonious balance of motifs, this time hand-painted with gouache using a more mature colour palette.
Did you face any challenges or obstacles while creating the design? If so, how did you overcome them?
Turning Over Old Leaves: This piece was created during a visit to London, where I was staying with my in-laws. Being back in the city where I had spent so much of my adult life made me reflect. It was less about technical challenges and more about reconnecting with memories and past experiences, especially as I was revisiting an older art piece. It was a full-circle moment – as if I were weaving my present self with the person I was when I first moved back to Malaysia. There’s a real comfort in seeing how much I’ve grown, and creating this piece allowed me to embrace that journey fully.
Stars Aligned: I remember this series of paintings being created during a very odd time where the world was moving towards even more destruction, war, conflicts and imbalances. The way I channel intense emotions and maintain a sense of control is to put paint to paper or thread to cloth. Through the privilege of being able to express myself through art, with intuition as my guiding star, I am able to process my own reactions towards those worldly events and find refuge in my craft. Something as simple as rearranging motifs until they click and mixing the colours until they feel right brings me peace.
When you're in the creative flow, how do you approach a new project? Do you have any rituals or habits that help you focus and nurture your ideas?
Travelling is a big source of inspiration for me. My drawings and artworks often come from places I’ve visited. One spot that’s become sacred to me is a waterfall on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, in Ulu Yam. When I hit creative blocks, I try not to force anything. I step away, breathe, and remind myself that art flows through us — it’s not something we control. I believe that when we stop trying too hard, the ideas come more naturally. I think it’s important to trust that inspiration will find its way in its own time.
You spoke about capturing balance in life through your art. How do you incorporate this philosophy into your daily life and creative practice?
Balance is something I actively seek, not just in my art, but in how I live. I try to approach each day with an openness to both stillness and motion. Some days are for creating, and others are for reflecting or even doing nothing — and both are important. My creative practice mirrors that balance.
As a multidisciplinary artist, you work across a range of mediums. How do you decide which medium to use for a project, and do you find that your exploration of one medium (textile) influences your work in others?
Choosing the right medium for a project depends on the idea or emotion I want to express. With textiles, I focus on texture and the tactile nature of fabric, but with painting or murals, I often want to convey energy through color and form. These different practices inform each other. For example, the rhythm of weaving influences the composition of my paintings. I approach each medium with the same curiosity, allowing them to cross-pollinate and inform one another.
What materials or techniques did you use to bring your design to life?
The original painting was done with gouache on 100% cotton, acid-free paper. Gouache provides rich, vibrant colours that capture nature's soft yet striking details, while the cotton paper adds a texture that enhances the organic feel I aim for in my work.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists or creators who want to make their mark in the industry?
Be patient with yourself, and allow room for growth. Art is a deeply personal journey, and it’s important to remember that it’s subjective – what makes a piece valuable to one person may not resonate with another. The most important thing is to stay true to yourself and to create from a place of authenticity.
Are there any other artists or creators who inspire you in your work?
I really admire artisans from all over the world, particularly the weavers of Borneo and weavers in India whom I’ve visited. In this day and age, crafting with our hands is a precious art form to me. Other artists whose works I enjoy are William Blake, Agnes Martin, Annie Albers, Gunta Stölzl, Bridget Riley, S. H. Raza, Pierre Boncompain and more.
Do you have any favourite Mossery products or designs from other artists that have caught your attention?
Yes, I’ve recently started using Mossery’s horizontal planner for 2025, and it’s been incredibly helpful for organising my creative projects and setting goals — day to day and week to week. The layout is intuitive and gives me a sense of clarity.
Art is a deeply personal journey. How do you see your art evolving in the next five years, and how do you envision yourself growing personally and professionally within the creative space?
I see myself embracing multiplicity. I never want to be tied down to one medium — textiles, murals, surface design — I want to explore every possible form of expression, from ceramics to photography to music. I aim to push myself beyond familiar boundaries and expand my creative practice into new, unexpected directions.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Mossery community and those who appreciate your work?
Thank you for the support, big and small. For an artist, any form of support means we get to continue doing what we love most: creating.
Thank you to Shan Shan Lim for giving us a deeper insight into the creation of her covers. If her words inspired you to begin an artistic journey of your own, check out her work with Mossery here/ under the Artist section!
