Chongyuan Du
Chongyuan Du is a contemporary artist who is currently studying at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania for her Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting. She lived in China for 18 years before moving to Virginia in 2013, She then received her BA in Studio Art from Old Dominion University in 2018. She believes that everyone is a product of their environment; thus, her work focuses on exploring the relationship between one’s living experience and mental illnesses. Using layers of paint to neutralize vivid colours and reduce or distort forms, such activity resembles the journey of how mental illnesses eat away one’s ability to feel joy, and distort the memories of more joyful times. Contemplating the final product’s effect helps to grow her understanding and awareness of her existence along with the fear it brings, while allowing her to visualize the experience in a way that broader audiences can comprehend.
Artist: Chongyuan Du
Based in China
Instagram: @lillithdu
Culturally features:
"Head and Sentiment: Dreams of an Artist", May 29-July 30 2021, Milostka Center for Exhibitions
What do you aim to say by the themes in your work?
In my opinion, beauty gives people a feeling of protection, thus I’m using a predominately desaturated colour scheme in my series to create a dreamlike setting. My painting process mimics how mental illness slowly eats away one's ability to feel joy, and distorts the memories of more joyful times.
Where does your inspiration come from?
As someone who experienced a plethora of emotional issues for a large portion of my adolescence, I eventually learned to compartmentalize them so that I could coexist with them without causing extra damage. Doing this allowed me to be a second-hand witness of myself, detaching my consciousness from my emotions as a coping method.
How would you describe your creative process?
The works are painted in a great number of layers, with the base layer being a bright, vivid colour, that gradually desaturates with each additional layer of complementary colours. This results in a painting that from a distance appears lacking colour but upon further inspection, the surface reveals more vivid colours beneath. Additionally, the imagery of the objects exist in a reduced form, creating an unclear state of reality adding to the surreal elements of the work.
What is integral to your work as an artist?
Content. Content drives form, so I think it’s essential for artists to have a thorough understanding of their own concept, and decide what is the best process/interpretation for their idea.
Do you have any experiences that have impacted your art?
Psychology states that everything we say and do are rooted in our childhood. I grew up with a single parent who had to work a lot to support us, thus it has partially impacted my personality to be more introverted, which has shaped me to use words and imageries to describe my emotions, and pushed onto the path of an artist.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
You will need a good foundation before you can dive deeper into your concept. I think many young artists have the misconception that artists that doesn’t do realism often lack the skills to do so, which often is not true. Artists chose their process because they deemed it fit for their concept; always use your content to determine your form, and not the other way around.
