Jiayi Chen
Jiayi Chen
Graduated from the London College of Communication, University of the Arts London.
Chen Jiayi responds to unique reflections within the modern setting with nuanced visual language in her photography works, which combine a sense of groundedness in the land with a broad symbolism drawn from philosophical conjecture.
Exhibitions:
2025
Solo exhibition at Art On Space, FoShan
Solo exhibition at Shanghai Photofairs, Shanghai
Liu Haisu Art Museum, Shanghai
Gwangju Art Fair, South Korea
Mothership X Singulart, New York, USA
Solo exhibition at Fan House Art Space, Guangzhou
Silk Gallery, Athens, Greece
Platform 14, London, UK
Artist Statement
After completing my studies in the United Kingdom in 2016, I returned to my homeland and embarked on a long journey of artistic creation.
In the early stages of my career, I continued some of the creative methods and styles from my student days, primarily using a 135-format film camera for direct snapshots, and extending this by creating some multi-screen video installations combining dynamic imagery with static photography. During this period, I completed works themed on square dancing titled "Xi" and works inspired by traditional Chinese opera titled "Hua Bu Nong Tan". These two series represented a preliminary summary of my early visual work, during which I became aware of the limitations of my own creative approach. I aspired to transcend these limitations by applying interdisciplinary methods and adopting a more subjectively creative approach to photography.
Following the completion of these initial series, I began conceiving the "Qi Xie Ying Zhi" series. The impulse behind this series was a primal urge to reconnect with the earth, drawing extensively from ethnic mythological imagery and delving deep into the folklore of southern towns to gather aesthetic materials. My aim was to seamlessly blend theatrical construction, lighting, and innovative photographic techniques to place mythology within an imagistic realm, transitioning from overt allegory to universal symbolism. The works of "Qi Xie" do not merely depict specific mythological figures; rather, they embody the mythic spirit born from the land itself. Mythology, cloaked in metaphorical truths, unifies the abundant imagination and creativity that permeates the land, leaving an indelible mark on the peoples who inhabit it. These works serve as fragments of the land's primal memory.
The creative plan for the "Qi Xie Ying Zhi" series is vast, divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower. I plan to complete this work over five years, ultimately presenting it through a variety of media, including imagery, text, sound, and installations. While I have already completed the upper portion, I am currently planning to travel to regions such as Western Hunan and Hubei to complete the middle section.