Lauren Powell Presents:

~ WANG Chen ~

Paper Sin Park

When escapes seem more necessary than ever, WANG Chen creates wildly unique and wondrous worlds both IRL & behind our screens. In these worlds, she creates every single element: some using computer programs and others made very physically by hand and then scanned into the digital world. Sometimes drawings are paramount and provide the inspiration for the 3D worlds that Chen creates inside of video game programs. These drawings often produce characters that will show up in future works. The characters extensions of herself, extensions of us. Sometimes, the drawings are 2D renditions of Chen’s favorite moments within her 3D world. Many of the drawings for this collection were made before, during, or directly after The Sin Park, one of my favorite, and most popular works included in E-Motionø Support Group. The drawings teleport us to her singular, fantastical universe full of characters in handmade yarn costumes. They perform gestures of dominance rising from both human desire and physical violence, set to mesmerizing music. We are immersed. We are within the video. Dense scenes of vibrant colors give home to several characters (all performed by Chen) interacting in an allegory for power dynamics within sexual identity and intimate relationships. Everything feels both completely familiar and completely surreal. Every element is considered. This is the first time Chen is sharing these drawings - critical to her studio practice - with the public. There is nothing recently that has made me feel so curious; a true gift. I want to step into Chen’s dimension and explore.

Learn more about Chen’s work here: https://wangchenstudio.com/ .

WANG Chen is a multimedia artist born in China and currently living and working in NYC. Chen handmakes costumes and props for her videos and builds fantastical spaces using virtual reality, exploring complex dynamics in power and identity. Chen holds a BFA in Painting from Virginia Commonwealth University (2014) and an MFA in Photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology (2018). Her work has been exhibited/screened nationally and internationally. Chen has participated in several residencies including The Studios at MASS MoCA and the NYFA Immigrant Mentoring Program. She is the fellowship recipient of Roswell Artist in Residency and Vermont Studio Center.