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

Jiayun, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

To give a little context, I’m a multidisciplinary artist who is interested in the performance of language–how it communicates, slips, or even fails. I’ve been working on an ongoing project on translation and language since 2021. This is the most meaningful project for me because of my interest in the limitations and complexities of language and translation. I have had personal experience of living between Chinese and American cultures, and the project reflects my reality of constantly navigating the gaps between them. I particularly love the accidental mistranslations that arise, which I often find poetic and humorous, I call them “accidental poems.” I am constantly finding new material that reminds me of mistranslation, so I don’t see myself stopping this series anytime soon.

I am excited to announce that I will be showcasing some new works in the Mistranslation series at my friend Alan-Orlando Luna Torre’s apartment gallery Orlando in mid-April located in Koreatown Los Angeles. It would be a great opportunity for me to revisit the works and think about them in a domestic context. It’s always a fun challenge when I’m doing site-specific work, I’m excited to see how this collaborative project will turn out.

Jiayun, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a multidisciplinary artist, which means my artistic interest isn’t limited to one medium. The material I’m using really depends on the project and what aligns with the concept. Though I’m most comfortable with drawings and ceramics, being a multidisciplinary artist pushes me to be in a position to learn new skills, including some unexpected ones. For example, I got pretty good at vinyl lettering from the Mistranslation project. One of the skills I’m trying to learn right now is 3D programs like Cinema 4D. It’s such a powerful tool in terms of creating environments, the amount of things you can do is incredible. My boyfriend Adrian and I are also thinking about taking a sewing class, anyway, I’m happy to gain more skills in my toolbox for future projects.

The learning process is not always fun. To get to the vision, there is often frustration that comes with it. What keeps me moving is the big picture of the project, I see that as the biggest motivation for gaining new skills.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

It took me some time to realize that your friends and community are your best resources. As I navigate the world after art school, I’ve experienced many great moments where I’ve borrowed my friends’ skills to make things work. I’m not the type of artist who is great at reaching out for resources; instead, I often look around and see what I can utilize around me. I also find it powerful to think that I can help my friends with my skill set. So, I definitely recommend asking your friends or someone in your community if you need a hand with your project or a specific skill!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I find it most rewarding when I find your group of people who share the same artistic interests. It is awesome to have a conversation with someone whom you just met and realize you went to the same concert five years ago, or have an in-depth discussion with a friend in your studio about a text that is influential to your work. To me, genuine connections are rewarding and I appreciate it. I guess what I’m trying to say is that having a creative community is crucial in terms of an artist’s career, especially emerging artists who are just out of school. Building a support system for your art practice itself is an extended practice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jiayunchenstudio.cargo.site/
• Instagram: @11×111

Image Credits
Images by Chris Hanke