Xuan Hew holds an MA Fine Art: Painting from Camberwell College of Arts, University of the Arts London. Xuan has exhibited in the UK, Malaysia, Korea and China, including a solo exhibition in London and a duo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. Xuan has also completed a six- month programme with the National Art Gallery Malaysia and a research residency in the Swiss Alps. Xuan’s fascination with snowy mountains began with childhood skiing trips, when staying in wooden cottages with family and sharing laughter made snow a symbol of joy. Growing up in Malaysia, snowy peaks also felt distant and unfamiliar, creating a natural longing to experience them. That longing led to repeated journeys to the mountains, beginning with the Alps while studying in London. Xuan brings sketchbooks on these trips to draw the peaks and learn about their names, history and geology. Over time, a love of mountains has grown into a deeper curiosity about the world and a desire to keep looking, learning and returning. I am drawn to snowy mountains partly because I started skiing young. During ski trips, my family and I would stay in wooden cottages, sharing lots of laughter. Snow became a symbol of joy. As a Malaysian, snowy peaks were also unlike the landscapes I grew up with, and I naturally longed for them. My practice grew through repeated visits to mountains, beginning with the Alps while I was studying in London. I carry sketchbooks with me, drawing the peaks in front of me and researching their names, histories and geology. In the Alps, I was struck by how much people knew about the mountains around them. Panorama maps helped visitors identify peaks, while passersby would share facts about their geology and history. This sent me down a rabbit hole of learning. The more I learned, the more mountains became a way of understanding the world rather than simply a subject to paint. What began as longing became curiosity, and eventually a way of living. Mountains give me a reason to keep looking, learning and returning. I like that I can keep chasing mountains. The Alps is only the beginning. In a fast-moving world, I hope my works offer a reason to pause, look closely, and rediscover the simple pleasure of curiosity, just as the mountains have taught me to do.