Galeria Hanbell
Galeria Hanbell
Galeria Hanbell
Galeria Hanbell
Galeria Hanbell
ALLURE
ALLURE
ALLURE
ALLURE
ALLURE
ALLURE
ALLURE
Xuechen Chen
Xuechen Chen
Based in New York
Instagram @cxc016
When did you begin your artist journey?
My artistic journey began at a young age, as I discovered my passion for creativity through doodling as a child. It was this early spark that led my mother to send me for formal training in various art forms, including Chinese painting, sketching, and watercolor. As I grew older and entered college, I made the decision to major in architecture, driven by my desire to solidify my visions of art and design.
During my college years, I eagerly enrolled in numerous art classes, covering a wide range of disciplines, such as fine art, illustration, and pottery. This diverse exposure further cultivated my artistic sensibilities. As I delved deeper into my career, I came to recognize that visual art is a universal and boundless mode of expression for any design. It enabled me to approach my work with a more abstract and audacious perspective, ultimately allowing me to create experiential designs.
Consequently, I began to venture into the world of digital art, drawing inspiration from my architectural work. I adopted a process of deconstruction, fragmentation, and reconstruction, forging layered and cohesive creations that blend my architectural insights with the world of digital art. This fusion has opened up new vistas for me, enabling me to channel the essence of architecture into a formless, yet impactful medium of artistic expression.
Where does your inspiration come from?
As an architect and designer, I draw inspiration from the materialist architecture creative process, unfolding and deconstructing current materials before reassembling them within the digital realm. My approach involves abstracting, deconstructing, and recomposing different dimensions, transitioning from 3D to 2D, layering, and various perspectives. Through this method, I consistently uncover fresh visual experiences that are both interconnected and independent.
I firmly believe that my creative process revolves around the layering of diverse elements, such as perspective, emotion, and media, allowing them to seamlessly merge and evolve into entirely new forms of digital art.
By merging my architectural insights with the world of digital art, my objective is to introduce people to innovative ways of appreciating the beauty of the design process in this digital era. This fusion extends beyond the boundaries of traditional creative design and has the potential to transform how we visualize the impact of architecture and design, digitalizing and enhancing our overall experience.
What do you aim to say by the themes in your art?
The central theme of my art predominantly revolves around the juxtaposition of urban forms and human experiences. I find that urban relationships can be both intimately connected and simultaneously distant. Drawing inspiration from Walter Benjamin's insightful observations and concepts, particularly the notion of the flâneur, I explore the dynamic interplay of attached and detached roles in city life, which I believe is emblematic of modernity in our urban environments.
The concept of the flâneur encapsulates the duality of our active participation in and fascination with street life, which, in turn, offers a fresh perspective on how we relate to time and space within urban settings. This theme has been a foundational element in my recent series, "URBAN UNFOLD," where I continually explore the evolving relationship between architectural infrastructure and individual perceptions of the past. These personal immersions lead to the formation of personal memories that become closely tied to specific architectural spaces, ultimately contributing to a shared, collective impression of the city's reality.
In my most recent series, "URBAN UNFOLD," this premise serves as a crucial foundation for my work. The series draws inspiration from three of the world's most prominent cities: New York City, Rome, and the River Thames in London. Through this exploration, I aim to capture the essence of these urban landscapes, showcasing the ever-evolving and intricate dance between architectural structures and the deeply personal human experiences that are woven into the tapestry of our cities.
Do you feel your art challenges existing barriers?
As an architect designer, the challenge is finding the right balance between art and design. While both are inherently creative processes and can yield similar outcomes, the production of art often necessitates a degree of abstraction and unbridled artistic freedom that distinguishes it from more structured design work. It's essential to remember that they are different types of creative processes. Even when I blend elements from both, I keep in mind that art is as a more philosophical and abstract interpretation of reality.
What are your long-term artistic goals?
In the long term, my aim is to continue crafting architectural and digital art experiences that effortlessly fuse captivating design with cutting-edge technology. My defining characteristic is my unwavering commitment to innovation within the fields of architecture and digital art. This approach harmoniously marries strategic thinking with creative expression to not only define a deeper artistic purpose but also to establish the sturdy foundations necessary for reshaping how individuals perceive, communicate, and enrich their lives. My focus on the seamless integration of these domains marks an ongoing dedication to nurturing transformative experiences and inspiring new perspectives in the realms of art, design, and architecture. Ultimately, I aspire to contribute to the evolution of how people engage with their surroundings, fostering greater appreciation for the beauty of design in the digital age.
Do you have experiences that impacted your art?
A pivotal experience that reshaped my perspective on visual art, urban relationships, and architecture occurred while researching my thesis project in architecture. We made a creative decision to convey our intentions through film, a choice that filled me with excitement as I penned the script and brought it to life on screen. Once our film was completed, we even had the incredible opportunity to showcase it at an Architecture and Design Film Festival that year. This experience opened up new avenues for my creative thinking, leading me to explore diverse media for expression. I found myself captivated by the montage effect in film, which left an indelible mark on my artistic approach. It fueled my passion for deconstructing perspectives and then reassembling them in my visual works. Later that year, I started on producing the "URBAN UNFOLD" series, which represents a new dimension of urban exploration in my creative journey.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Don't worry about perfection; it's in the fun and the mistakes that you'll discover your true artistic self.
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