Road to golden mountain

Written By Laura Beaton

After starting this painting 9 times from scratch I completed and framed ‘Road to Golden Mountain’. It is based on the memoir of Alan K. Joe’s ‘Of Ox and Unicorn’, available on Kindle via Amazon or via paperback through Alan Joe. It

Road to Golden Mountain depicts Alan’s life journey from a young boy in China during WWII through to his life as a retired dental surgeon in Toronto.

When Alan was a young boy, his family was starving due to the ravages of WWII. Despite this, Alan’s mother rejected an offer of 8 bushels of rice from a childless woman who wanted to adopt him. Instead, she planned her son’s emigration to Canada. At that time, Canada was known as the Golden Mountain because of the abundance of wealth and how the roads were considered to be ‘paved with gold’.

Alan’s mother was unable to afford a Visa or passport so she remained in China while sending her son to live in Canada. In 1950 at the age of 13, Alan embarked on a lengthy journey to the North America: First by boat to San Francisco, then by train to Vancouver, and finally by train to Toronto, where he was welcomed to his new home by the beautiful snow-covered trees. In Toronto, Alan began to build his new life. He worked as a server at Lichee Garden to fund his university education and support his family. Through his hard work, Alan became a dental surgeon at Sick Kids Hospital.

This painting depicts Alan’s journey via a series of symbols and imageries that represent the significant milestones in his life trajectory.

Of Ox and Unicorn, memoir by Alan K. Joe; painting title 'Road to Golden Mountain'

Alan K. Joe, author of ‘Of Ox and Unicorn’. Painting title: Road to Golden Mountain, Chinese Ink on Washi (Japanese paper)

Laura Beaton

I am a Toronto-born, international award-winning visual fine artist whose work fuses the traditions of Sumi-e, Chinese Brush Painting, and Western mixed media. Through my art, I explore and celebrate the differences and similarities among cultures—particularly Japanese, Chinese, and North American.

Though my roots are in Scottish bagpipes and English tea, a chance encounter with a Chinese brush painting on an antique tea wagon sparked a lifelong artistic journey. That early moment ignited a creative curiosity that led me to explore what it truly means to live, and create, in a multicultural society.

My art honours centuries-old techniques while looking to the future. I transform inks, rice papers, and layered textures into serene, imaginary worlds that are contemporary, yet grounded in tradition. Each piece whispers a quiet declaration: “I Am Canadian.”

Highlights of my career include:

• Election to both the Society of Canadian Artists and the Federation of Canadian Artists

• Multiple national and international awards, including Japan

• Serving as North American President for the International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society, representing artists from eight countries

• Exhibiting in China, with my work held in the permanent collection of the Chinese government

As a non-Asian artist mastering the philosophies and aesthetics of traditional Japanese and Chinese ink art while infusing Canadian narratives, I aim to reimagine tradition, transcend borders, and create space for new perspectives. My practice is a re-wilding of the social graces and an invitation to connect.

https://LauraBeaton.com
Previous

Of ox and unicorn
Next

A new seal created by a new friend