Although just a student at the Central Academy of Fine Art, Chinese artist Liane Chu has already developed a multifaceted practice that examines both her own deeply personal lived experiences as well as society’s collective experience in a time of increasing technological development. Crafting poetic paintings full of movement and energy, and building immersive installations that offer a glimpse into a vibrant alternate reality, Chu’s body of work moves seamlessly across boundaries—both thematically and materially.
Central to Chu’s recent lines of artistic inquiry are, at the formal level, the exploration of color and material, and thematically the examination of perception, specifically in light of omnipresent technology and the contemporary world in contrast to the natural.
We caught up with the artist to learn more about how she approaches each of her works and series, as well as where she recurrently finds inspiration.
Can you tell us a bit about your background, what drove you to pursue art?
My upbringing involved living in different cities and cultural backgrounds, which has given me a diverse cultural identity. I was born in Hong Kong, China, in 1997. I grew up in Shanghai and went to high school in New York, and returned to Hong Kong where I received my B.A. in media and communication from the City University of Hong Kong. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in experimental art and technology at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, under the guidance of Qiu Zhijie.
I have Tourette’s syndrome, which causes unintentional tics and seizures. As a child, I saw the world as dynamic, with flowers and trees moving, and mountains and rivers shifting. I only felt at peace when painting, which led me to start communicating with art and to paint the world I saw. Later, my experiences in different cultural backgrounds—in Hong Kong, I studied traditional Chinese painting; while in New York, I delved into abstract painting, and investigated new media and new styles of painting using novel materials. In Florence, Italy, I immersed myself in traditional classical painting and oil painting techniques; and in Spain, I further developed my skills in oil painting. The diverse cultural backgrounds of my art education have broadened my perspective in creating art, allowing me to explore a wider range of themes and use a richer palette of mediums. For example, in my series “Cracks,” I employed the techniques of traditional Chinese ink painting to create works that are both visually arresting and conceptually profound.
