Artist in conversation: Yen-hui Chen
“I like new challenges, it’s definitely not easy, but it enriches my artworks and my soul at the same time”
Yen Hui Chen is a vibrant spirit who lives by her mantra, Live in the moment. Yen believes in the transformative power of art and aims to add a splash of color to our world, one brushstroke at a time.
Her artwork isn't just about creating visually appealing pieces; it's about healing and touching hearts. Yen's paintings are like visual symphonies that resonate with your soul, allowing you to encounter your own emotions and feelings in a new light.
Yen understands that life is full of unknowns and projections, and she embraces these uncertainties in her work. She invites you to delve into the depths of your own narratives, ideals, and expectations through her art.
Painting, for Yen, is a simple act, but the feelings it evokes are anything but. Her art is a testament to the complexity and depth of human emotion. Each piece is an exploration, a journey into the heart of what it means to be human.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
In 2017, I hit a low point in my life and decided to take a year off. During this time, I enrolled in a variety of classes, one of which was oil painting. With my previous experience in sketching and watercolor painting, I found myself drawn to the depth and texture of oil paints. Amazingly, as I immersed myself in the process of painting, I felt my depression begin to lift. It was a transformative experience, and now, I want to share that healing power with others, even though it's not always easy.
Originally, I set out to capture meaningful trips or beautiful sceneries in my artwork, a practice I affectionately refer to as 'spiritual globetrotting'. As you might notice, many of my pieces feature colorful and detailed landscapes from around the world. I have a particular fondness for incorporating small, hidden figures into my paintings. These easter eggs often bring smiles to those who discover them, and I believe they've become a hallmark of my style.
Even when I venture into non-scenic creations, I maintain this tradition of including small, whimsical details. It's my own personal touch, a signature feature that infuses a little joy into each piece.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
I always explore in my trips and daily life, even an animation or TV drama can inspire me. Soon I will open a series of artworks on this new motif to carry out different feelings or movement I would like to deliver.
Can you share with us how your artwork aims to evoke emotions and bring about a sense of healing?
I think we all sometimes fall into feelings of boredom in the environments in which we live. That's why we need to travel, to experience other people's lives, even if only for a short time. Sometimes, we just need encouragement or companionship. And that's what I aim to achieve through my artwork. Take, for instance, the pieces I'm showing at the upcoming exhibition - they all depict quite famous scenery.
In one piece, "The Winter Village of Fairy Tales", it looks just like the fairy tales we heard in our childhood, all of which end happily ever after. I hope that people can sometimes remind themselves of this pure world, shedding the imperfections of reality. Each light you see in the artwork symbolizes someone waiting and accompanying you. So while the scenery may be cold, the feelings it evokes are warm. It encourages us to find the strength to move on and discover our own happy endings.
The other piece, "Walk Alone in Raining Manhattan", portrays an atmosphere completely opposite to the winter village. The colors are dark and it's raining. But personally, I quite like the rain, especially the sound it makes. It always provides a period of rest for your mind. The rain washes away or cleanses many things. Most importantly, it's always nice weather after the rain. That's why the sky after rain is always bright. I hope we can wash away our troubles and see the silver lining, preparing ourselves for the sunshine that follows.
Just recently, a collector purchased my artwork of a stalactite cave. He told me that he sees time in my artwork, and that time is everything. This was a huge encouragement to me, letting me know that there are people who truly understand the feelings and meanings I want to convey.
Can you discuss a specific piece or project that challenged you as an artist, and how you overcome those challenges?
Discussing the challenges I've faced is difficult for me, mainly because I constantly set new challenges for myself. My initial style was very meticulous, but recently, I've started learning and experimenting with impressionism. While my early artworks were mostly realistic, I've begun to incorporate more imaginative elements into my work, such as Disney themes and whales.
I welcome new challenges. Although they're not easy, they enrich both my artwork and my soul. I hope they can provide the same enrichment to others as well.
How do you stay connected with other artists and keep up with new developments and trends in the art world?
I have become a member of an oil painting association in Taiwan. Within this association, there are many experienced members, some of whom are professors or teachers. They generously share their knowledge and provide advice.
In addition to that, I joined an organization that brings together new artists. It supports us with various exhibition opportunities and resources, and shares the latest trends in art. We also have a group where artists can share information with each other.
Though I am currently focused on my own creations, I still attend a class once a week to continue learning new things from my teacher.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
I always listen carefully and consider how I can improve based on criticism or advice. For instance, I've been told that while my art accurately depicts realistic scenery, it lacks a creative soul. After some reflection, I agreed with this assessment regarding the lack of creativity, but I still believe that scenery can speak to and resonate with people. Therefore, I chose to increase the creativity in my artworks without abandoning my original motif of world travel.
These two elements are not in conflict and can progress simultaneously!
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
As I have mentioned above, I will turn some advices to my new artwork development way. It’s always excited to open a new motif of creation. And due to the time I spent on an artwork is quite long, it seems I still cannot catch up the progress of my new ideas (lol).
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
Very honored, excited and nervous, too. Due to the time conflict, I may not be able to show in this exhibition, which means I will not be able to introduce the concept and meanings I want to deliver through my artworks in person. But I still hope can find read into my artworks. And I’m quite appreciative to have this exhibition opportunity.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
In actuality, I've only been actively pursuing my career as an artist since last year, so there's still a long way to go and many things that need to be developed gradually.
However, as I've mentioned before, my hope is to radiate light and strength through my artworks. To achieve this, my initial plan is to increase my visibility on social media, where I can use soothing words to introduce my ideas. I'm also proactively participating in exhibitions. Concurrently, I'm seeking collaboration opportunities and exploring the creation of related merchandise that aligns with my core values. It may be a long journey, but I am prepared to move forward, one firm step at a time.