Emotional Gradients and Crimson Journeys: Yuanjie Chen on the Symbolism of Love and Light in Art
Initiated and organized by The Bridge Arts Foundation, the 'Seeking Light' Global Young Artist Open-Call Exhibition is currently being held at Scholart Selection Gallery in San Gabriel, California, and will run until May 18th, 2024.
Bridge Arts Foundation's Art Director, Tia Xu, engaged in a conversation about the exhibition and art with several artists participating in this exhibition. In this interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with artist Yuanjie Chen.
—— Q&A ——
Tia Xu: Could you please share your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in art?
Yuanjie Chen: I am Yuanjie Chen, a multidisciplinary artist from China based in New York City. My works are mainly paintings and installations that explore the definition of warmth and love and share my emotional journey, which transited from a deep discussion of my original family's problems and Chinese culture in the art practice in various materials. The shift comes from my incessant self-introspection. It gives me insight into how symbolism conveys concept to the audience and the connection between red color and emotion.
Yuanjie Chen_Answer 1. Photo courtesy of artist.
Two primary points inspire me to pursue an art career.
Desire of expression. It is more about an impulse I have to do. Thinking and introspecting are my mannerisms. That is the healing way for my sensitivity. The visual form of piling brushstrokes, sculpting clay, and transforming plentiful materials is just a behavior to outlet and prop up the process of thinking. I enjoy creating so much that I feel rusty with all the sentiment in my body when I stop. Creating was the pivotal moment and reason who whispered in my ear to tell me that art life was a part of my life.
Love and responsibility. I believed doing art was a selfish job before I was ready to be a professional artist. When I created an integral artwork and hung it on the wall in a white cube to show, I found that the labor of creating is love and responsibility. The responsibility is that I need to work hard to find ways to express my philosophy and make the audience think about it. And that motivation is love. It is a giving and selfless sharing. The timing of wanting to pursue a creative path professionally is being ready to show the result of my thoughts and art.
Tia Xu: What does "Seeking Light" mean to you, and how does your artwork explore this theme? Can you tell us the story behind your artwork from the exhibition?
Yuanjie Chen: The topic of "Seeking Light" meshes with the concept in my new project. The painting is a part of this show and also the first piece in the project.
The project is named "A Journey to Celebrate and Seek." It is inspired by my personal understanding of love, pain, and the emotional experience of intimate relationships. I work primarily in shades of crimson red because it is a symbol of love, the color of blood, and an auspicious color in Chinese culture. I use red wax and fake blood because of their visceral qualities.
Bridge Arts Foundation's "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition Installation View, Photo: © The Scholart Selection / Luna Hao
The title of this painting I showed is Answer 1. Crimson red feels like a negative and blood-like color to me, while cadmium red feels positive and sunny. I use them in a gradation of black to white to express the transformation of my emotions and thoughts. The spiral represents a spiritual journey from loveless darkness to a warm white space that holds the flow of new love. Hence, the story I want to tell my audience is a journey to celebrate and seek. The warmth and love are like the light I try to celebrate and seek from abysmal darkness.
Yuanjie Chen_Answer 2. Photo courtesy of artist.
Tia Xu: How does your cultural background influence your art?
Yuanjie Chen: I am a Chinese boy who has lived in China for 21 years. I am not a conservative. My parents took care of me during my upbringing. My family and cultural background have had an enormous impact on me. Submission and obedience are etched in my mind. Because of this, my personality traits have become sensitive. I will be more concerned about others' emotions than my own. I need help to refuse others' requests. I am an overthinker and need to work hard to release my feelings. When making decisions, I always worry about doing the right thing. I know my flaws. I am trying to get rid of them. But the process is painful. Typical behavior is that I have become accustomed to the rules of work, study, and life, which the secular values knowledge in textbooks may set. I have become accustomed to judging things in a black-and-white way in my mind. Even though I constantly read, think, and rebel, the shackles always appear first and control me when I think about something. That's why I chose to become an artist and create art. I want to force myself to think, doubt, and create. When I encounter my fiancée, I am more aware of the problems brought about by my family background and emotional needs. She is a straightforward and honest girl. She made me feel the warmth of a hug and the caring emotion. This feeling was completely different from my concern for my family. From then on, I began to pursue this love. It became the most essential thing in my life. Then, I share the pleasure and desire for love in my art.
Yuanjie Chen_Answer 3. Photo courtesy of artist.
Tia Xu: What materials and techniques do you prefer to use in your art, and could you explain your choices?
Yuanjie Chen: Paintings and sculpture are two primary forms I use in my art. I define my painting technique as a kind of "writing." I don't have any references for my painting process. It depends on the concept of my art, sharing my story by visual language. Hence, the conceptual technique of paintings is like pure expression. Furthermore, the gesture of writing allows me to retrospect and introspect to grow more self-talk and heal myself.
On the other hand, the significance of sculpture is more like a "description" for me. The technique of making a sculpture is like composing a script. Material language, texture, and scale seem like three different actors in sculpture. They have individual specialties. As an artist who makes sculptures, I should consider the connection between these specialties and then compose a piece of melodic music to celebrate my concept, warmth and love.
Yuanjie Chen_The Beloved Person Will Grow Flesh and Blood. Photo courtesy of artist.
Tia Xu: What emotions or ideas do you hope viewers will take away from experiencing your artwork?
Yuanjie Chen: Love and warmth could heal the adverse effects of harmful emotions. When I met my fiancée, I started to feel what honest love is, and love is one of this world's most infectious and precious emotions. Then, I became aware art practice could heal me. A sincere art could resonate with the audience, make them think, and even make them ask philosophical questions to redefine their view of things.
Contemporary people try hard to pursue a better life by being rich or somebody they want to be. However, I hope we can remember how to love and what love is. That is why I share my journey to celebrate and seek love and warmth. I hope everyone finds out what true love is for us.
Yuanjie Chen_Sparkle, Sparkle. Photo courtesy of artist.
ABOUT OPEN CALL EXHIBITION PROGRAM
Bridge Arts Foundation's "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition Installation View, Photo: © The Scholart Selection / Luna Hao
Bridge Arts Foundation's Open Call Exhibition Program is designed to provide support for early-career artists. The "Seeking Light" Open Call Exhibition has thoughtfully selected 18 talented artists from a pool of over 500 submissions, employing a selection process that involves art professionals. "Seeking Light" opens from April 20th to May 18th, 2024.
ABOUT ARTIST
Yuanjie Chen
Multidisciplinary Artist based in New York City.
B. 1999, Fuzhou, China
Exhibition History
2024 4 Seeking light, group show, The Scholart Selection, Los Angeles, US
2023 10 Expanding the Panopticon, group show, LatchKey Gallery, New York, US
2023 9 Ritual, Online solo show, Art Yourself Atelier, New York, US
2018 The Beginning of Abstract, Songjiang Art Museum, Shanghai, China
2018 Multi-Dimensional Adventure, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts Shanghai, China
Interview & Press
2024 The 2024 Spring Global Artist Exhibition ‘Seeking Light’ opens in Los Angeles. Promoting artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, The Los Angeles Post.
2024 Meet YUANJIE CHEN, Bold Journey
2024 Daily Inspiration: Meet Yuanjie Chen, VoyageLA
2024 STORIES & INSIGHTS: Meet Yuanjie Chen, CANVASREBEL
2023 Art and Philosophy, SinovisionNet, New York Lounge.
Professional Experience
2021-2022 Member of curatorial team, non-profit art organization, SNAP, Shanghai, China
2021- Art assistant, art brand, Swet-Shop, Shanghai, China
Education
2022-2024 School of Visual Arts, Master of Fine Arts
2017-2021 Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Instructional Experience
2017-2018 Instructor, profit painting-training school, Fuzhou Qinqing Institute of Painting Training, Fuzhou, China
2018-2019 instructor a profit painting-training school, Beiruoxuan Institute of painting training, Shanghai, China
2019 Artist assistant, artist studio, Fetish Design Studio, Shanghai, China