We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chloe Chen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chloe below.

Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Chloe Chen is an artist who holds an M.F.A in painting and drawing in fine arts from Pratt Institute, New York. Her work involves large ink drawings, ceramics, and printmaking. Her art reflects restrictions imposed by public opinion and conventions, and her particular cultural background surrounding women’s sexuality. Her work starts by recording her daily routine of “self-care”—applying make-up, selecting accessories, emotional regulation, etc., through drawing. This exhausting routine of “self-care” is sometimes considered a coping mechanism, and a necessity for negotiating society. The social psychology driving these actions also applies to her work on paper. Chloe’s observational drawings reflect restrictions imposed by public opinion and conventions, her particular cultural background, and religious beliefs surrounding women’s sexuality. She explores and exposes these personal topics through self-examination, from her body to works on paper. In her projects about feminism, her drawing Gift discussed the issue of the “female virginity complex” in China. Here the core value of virginity is part of a wider symbolic complex in which the chastity of women is the key concept. She recalled her childhood family education, that is, to be a “good girl” and remain pure until marriage, like a brand new gift, waiting for the opening of a certain night… And the drawing Ballet Girl discusses that when females remove objects, dress, makeup, and adornment, they still maintain an inhibited body and a nervous and uncomfortable situation. There is an old Chinese saying, “elegant enough to show around to the guests, and diligent enough to make good cuisines.” —— a typical standard for an ideal Chinese wife who excels in housework and social life. Through the reflection on East Asian culture, the relationship with the family, the inherent awareness of the division of labor between men and women, and the gender identities that society and culture export to them, such as “how men should be”, “how women should be”, etc to deeply develop self-examination. Chloe’s works are exhibited and collected internationally in the USA, South Korea, and China. During the two academic years at Pratt, Chloe served as a graduate assistant for the foundation art and symposium. After graduation, she worked in art administration and as an artist assistant in the non-profit art organization ChaShaMa, and the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts in New York City. Now she is an artist and art educator based in San Diego, California.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an artist who lives in San Diego, California now and focuses on large ink drawings, ceramics, and printmaking. I was born and raised in Shanghai, China. I had a strong passion for painting and drawing since I was a little kid. Before I came to the U.S., I hold a B. A degree in fiber art when I started to create mixed media through a series of experiments going beyond the traditions of 2D space, like painting and drawing into materials like textiles to 3D explorations. In 2019, I went to the U.S. and got a painting and drawing M.F.A at Pratt Institute in New York City last year. During my time at Pratt, it inspires me to explore and dig deeper into my identity as an Asian woman artist. After graduation, I worked in art administration in non-profit art organizations and foundations like ChaShaMa and The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts. Now I moved to Southern California to continue my art career as an artist.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative practice revolves around my own experience, and the protagonist in my drawing is always myself. I always feel that some things that happen around us are like boiling frogs, however, the reality is frogs don’t boil, but we might. I created the work Abortion in 2018, and until recently Roe v. Wade was overturned, I think we haven’t done enough. Andrew Wynter, an English physician, and author wrote “If we could watch in secret the rape of each lock, we should be able to give a series of pictures of human agony such as life but rarely presents, for we may be sure that, as a rule, a young woman almost as soon lose her life as that glorious appendage, on which so much of her beauty depends.” when he described a very large trade in human hair- especially women’s hair in the 18th century to explain that there were one hundred tons of human hair annually taken to Paris and were distributed in a raw and manufactured state over the whole of Europe. Those girls who sold their hair were not only a participant in an industry chain of human-hair trade but also consumers forced by the fashion trends created by public opinion and consumerism. Today, across the world, women and girls still grow their hair for money. The relationship between women and society has changed, but there is still a certain oppressiveness. My works start from these glorious appendages, in the form of observational drawings, ceramics, and printmaking to discuss the relationship between women and consumerism, and the social psychology driving these actions. Also, to reflect on restrictions imposed by public opinion and conventions, and my particular cultural background surrounding women’s appearance and sexuality through my introspection.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

It’s normal that non-creatives may struggle to understand my journey as a creative. But for myself, I think it is important that don’t let social opinion, anxiety of age, or peer pressure influence your decision. Learn to let go of others’ opinions. BE HAPPY:)       

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chloechen.portfoliobox.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloechenstudio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-chen-421412212/