Melbourne artist Chan Chih Min believes that through art, and imagination, one is able to get a glimpse of whole worlds hidden within a grain of sand. Mere nature may seem to want the "stuff to vie strange forms with fancy"; however, through the creative process, we seek to conjure up the "strange forms" that will not only throw light on the beauty and wonder of the world we live in, but also enable us to transcend the physical limitations of time and space.

In his paintings, Chih Min creates fascinating colours and textures using natural and rare pigments from gemstones and minerals such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, diopside, jadeite, and shungite sourced from around the world.

Here is a selection of paintings that highlights the diversity of techniques, styles and subject-matters that represents his oeuvre.