In the biblical story, Jesus was born humbly in a stable. I have interpreted the scene in a chinoiserie style, in the tradition of "inculturation," where religious art isn't created as a literal representation of the scene, but is adapted to reflect global traditions and culture, so that everyone might see themselves reflected in the story.
Chinoiserie is also a blending of my own two heritages, so it's very personal to me.
In my painting, baby Jesus lies in the manger, with his parents Mary and Joseph on either side. The decorative border includes a donkey, cow, goats, and a lamb, which symbolizes Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God. Other details include the star of Bethlehem, Alpha-Omega, XP (Christ), IX (Christ in Greek), ΙΧΘΥΣ fish, and lion symbolizing the house of David.
My original watercolor and ink painting is stamped with my Chinese seal and signed. The gold frame can be hung on a wall or propped on a surface. The painting is 6 inches wide, and the frame is 8 inches wide.