So Man Ting, Born in 1999 in Hong Kong, graduated from the Department of Visual Arts and Design at the National University of Tainan in 2022 and began her postgraduate studies in the same department that year. Her artistic practice is rooted in Western media, with a particular expertise in oil painting, acrylic, and watercolor, through which she reshapes classical narratives within a contemporary context. Her work, The Hierophant – Tarot Series, was recognized with the Selected Award at the 2025 Tainan Fine Arts Exhibition.

During her graduate studies, she immersed herself in the study of Tarot and astrology. She keenly observed the growing societal demand for and fascination with occultism as a response to the anxieties of the “unknown” in modern life. To her, Tarot is not merely a window to glimpse the future, but a refined script that chronicles the various stages of life and philosophies of existence.

At the core of her creative practice is the visual translation of traditional Tarot iconography. By boldly adopting imagery from medieval bestiaries, she has established a unique vertical three-tier composition that guides viewers through an intuitive understanding of the cards’ meanings via downward visual storytelling. In terms of visual language, she pays homage to the craftsmanship of medieval illuminated manuscripts, using gold leaf to precisely define the boundaries between the frame and the painting. Furthermore, she utilizes gouache to delicately render aged, mottled textures alongside high-saturation visual tension, presenting a body of Tarot paintings that transcend time, bridging artisanal aesthetics with spiritual enlightenment.