10 Questions with Celine Chan

Celine Chen is a novel artist in Hong Kong. She studied in Canada and furthered her studies in design at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Inspired by the Russian paper-quilling master Yulia Brodskaya, Celine never stopped practicing and devoted herself ardently to creating paper-quilling art. Her artworks have a strong personality, with gorgeous integration of Oriental culture. She is one of the few Asian artists engaged in the creation of paper quilling. Her works are glamorous and trendy, always demonstrating her passion for life and beauty. Her works are collected by many local and international celebrities.

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ARTIST STATEMENT

Paper quilling is as gorgeous as oriental embroidery, and is deeply loved by people. Paper quilling is not a simple process combination. Its beauty is through the delicate jade hand, skillfully using small pliers, according to the small dense lines already drawn, like the fine craftsman of timers, aiming at the works of art that are pasted into a picture, by every single trace, color, and roll. One single mistake will cause the work to be redone all over again. Therefore it is fair to compare the making of paper-quilling with the making of timers. Paper quilling is an art that originated from the British royal family and aristocrats in the 18th century. According to research, this is an art that emerged from the superior roll paper works made by religious women (or nuns) to glamorize their religion. These works, with a little patience and creativity, have become beautiful and artistic divine color art, which is deeply loved and pursued by the nobility. In short, Paper quilling is worth pursuing and appreciating! Celine Chen’s paper quilling works will certainly sublimate your soul, as Master Wang Wei of the Tang Dynasty said:

“Sitting alone in a bamboo grove
Playing the piano and sing
Nobody knows I am here
Only the moon is shining on me.”

Celine likes doing paper quilling artwork because she feels calm and at peace when she focuses on carefully pasting those paper pieces into the composition. Paper quilling definitely needs a lot of patience and perseverance to complete. It is a very difficult process, and it is such an unforgiving art form. But on the other hand, it gives people enormous satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment after finishing making the whole artwork.
She wants to express the psychological side of human beings and the attitude of how people face problems through her artworks, giving them the power to be more resilient to difficulties. Also, she believes that the power of love can break through the gap of light leakage in the darkness. Therefore, she wants her viewers can feel that positive spirit toward life.

INTERVIEW

First of all, how would you describe yourself in three words?

"Sensitive," "Independent," and "Perfection"
I am very demanding of myself, and I always push myself hard enough to break through my limitation, trying to do the best I can. I am a sensitive person as well as a perfectionist.

Let's talk about your background. How did you develop into the artist you are today?

I kinda resisted art when I was young because I was afraid of failure and every uncertainty that may happen. My mind felt very uneasy since I was not confident enough. But everything changed when I met my art teacher in high school.
I studied abroad for my high school in Vancouver, Canada. I met my art teacher, and she always encouraged me to explore new things. She brought us to a gallery and museum for a field trip, and she also let us use whatever materials we could possibly find in the classroom to create our artworks. She always said I am so talented, and I have gained a lot of recognition from her.
As I remember, I didn't have too many friends in Vancouver at the beginning, so I always practiced drawing alone in my room whenever I had time. I have built up my confidence in the art after a while, and more importantly, I have found my interest in art.
I am a self-taught artist. I always like delicate, beautiful, and creative things. I fell in love with paper quilling artworks when I saw some wonderful paper quilling artworks in a bookstore. It amazed me right away. I realized that paper quilling is the best form to express myself. My heart was full of excitement when I started making my paper-quilling artwork. From a person who didn't know too many techniques and theories of making decorative art, I have tried, again and again, learning through practice after practice. Finally, I have managed the core and skill of making paper quilling art.

Aphrodite, Paper Quilling on canvas, 40x50 cm, 2021 © Celine Chan

You studied both in Canada and Hong Kong. What did you derive from these two different environments and cultures? And how did they influence your work?

I like the study environment a lot in Canada. It gives students the freedom to establish their own interests without any boundaries. I could meet friends from different countries, allowing me to understand different cultures and norms.
Of course, Hong Kong is an international city. It merges both eastern and western cultures together and forms its unique characteristic.
I think I am pretty lucky that I am able to grow up in these diverse environments, and it offers me a wider thought and vision when I work as an artist nowadays.

Your biography mentions Yulia Brodskaya as one of your main sources of inspiration. Can you tell us more about her and how her work influences yours?

Yes, Yulia Brodskaya is definitely one of the best paper-quilling artists in the world; I like her artwork a lot. I think her paper-quilling works are glorious and creative. Her art style always brings a strong sense of visual impact to audiences.
Undoubtedly, her artworks inspired me a lot. She definitely opened up a brand new dimension on the application of paper-quilling artwork. Even though my approach to making paper-quilling artwork is different from Yulia, her artwork proves to me that paper-quilling can be a unique and wonderful art form to develop with.

Let's talk about paper quilling, your preferred medium. How did you get interested in this technique, and what does it represent for you?

I like doing paper quilling artwork because I feel calm and peaceful when I focus on carefully pasting those paper pieces into the composition. Paper quilling definitely needs a lot of patience and perseverance to complete. It is a very difficult process, and it is such an unforgiving art form. But on the other hand, it gives people enormous satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment after I finish making the whole artwork.
I consider paper-quilling artworks as a gateway through which I can communicate with the viewers, and I can talk to them through my art language.

Persephone, Paper Quilling on canvas, 40x50 cm, 2021 © Celine Chan

Artemis, Paper Quilling on Canvas, 40x50 cm, 2021 © Celine Chan

Can you tell us more about your creative process? What type of paper do you use, and how do you work with it?

The materials I used to create my artwork are rather simple. Paper tapes, glue, and some tools are all I needed to make my artwork.
First of all, I will draw out my composition; then, I will do a simple color study with a paper collage. I like to see things in their actual appearance rather than only reviewing them through a computer screen. Then I will make a rough version by making some shapes with paper tape to get an actual idea of what the artwork will be like. Because I will use different methods to form the paper tape into shape, I need to experiment for quite a while in order to understand what will be the best way to present the shape. It might take weeks or even months to make my final decision, but I think it is worth doing so, I can always explore new techniques through this process.
After I have a clear picture of how I want my artwork to be, I will start my final artwork, making shapes and forms carefully with paper tapes.

And what messages are you trying to convey with your art?

I want to express the psychological side of human beings and the attitude of how people face problems through my painting, giving them the power to be more resilient to difficulties. Also, I believe that the power of love can break through the gap of light leakage in the darkness. Therefore, I want my viewers can feel that positive spirit toward life.

Red Crowned Crane, Paper Quilling on Board, 28x39 cm, 2021 © Celine Chan

The Spirit of Eagle, Paper Quilling on Board, 40x40 cm, 2022 © Celine Chan

Is there anything else you would like to experiment with? Any other technique or material you would like to introduce in your practice?

I am exploring a new approach to making my paper-quilling artwork right now, in which I am trying to find a way to input the sense of smell into my creation.
I smelled perfume in a store while I was on vacation with my family. A lot of old memories of my childhood came back to my mind suddenly. It was magical. Then I realized that the sense of smell is really strong compared with other human senses. The memory of smell will stay in our hippocampus for a long period. It can recall our memories from our deep consciousness once we reach the same smell. I think the discovery is so amazing and attractive to me!
Therefore, I decided to find a way to put a sense of smell into my upcoming artwork, and I am trying my best to find a way to solve the technical problem.

You already have your works in many collections, both locally and internationally. How do you promote your work? And how do you keep your collectors engaged?

I will join in some art shows in the upcoming future, such as L.A. Art Show, Art Basel, Gwangju Biennale Art Exhibition, Tokyo Art Show, and so on, trying to show my art to a bigger platform and higher level market.
I will make my appearance in some local exhibitions as well in order to let more local buyers get familiar with my artwork in the year 2023.

Finally, what are you working on right now? Any new projects you would like to share with our readers?

I am working on a series of paper-quilling artwork about peace right now. Human beings have been suffering from disaster and war these few years. As an artist, I hope people can still think about our life calmly and reflect on some of our experiences with a calm and pure heart in this chaotic era. Although there are some fears in our hearts, we can all strive to overcome difficulties; Although our world is changing every day and life is ups and downs, we can still keep our original intentions and the good wishes we believe in so that we can move on.

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