"My painting started as diary, which tends to be in a written form. What is the meaning of one’s self?"
Tender art on longing, regret and childhood paradise
Chen Wei Ting is an artist who explores longing, loss and childhood nostalgia. His whimsical work spans poetry, painting, sculpture and installation. Largely, he focuses on the emotional tension between childhood innocence and growing up. Vintage toys and alter-ego creatures feature as confidantes of himself. Some works are intertwined, with paintings often evolving into physical objects or sculptures. Inspiration is found in a range of places, from adverts and cartoons to animal photos. Throughout his practice, tears personify objects – falling from the eyes of a teacup, a sunflower sculpture...
Chen Wei Ting is an artist who explores longing, loss and childhood nostalgia. His whimsical work spans poetry, painting, sculpture and installation. Largely, he focuses on the emotional tension between childhood innocence and growing up. Vintage toys and alter-ego creatures feature as confidantes of himself. Some works are intertwined, with paintings often evolving into physical objects or sculptures. Inspiration is found in a range of places, from adverts and cartoons to animal photos. Throughout his practice, tears personify objects – falling from the eyes of a teacup, a sunflower sculpture or a cute bear. Acrylic and pencil are used to create the soft, smudged lines of Ting’s wistful storybook style.
For Chen, artworks are reflections on existence – each one describes a part of a whole life. This is inspired by Roland Barthes’ book A Lovers’ Discourse (1977). In it, Barthes argues that each of life’s ‘fragments’ carry equal importance. Likewise, Chen sees all his work as equal. Writing poems is another form of drawing – drawing and painting are their own forms of poetry. No matter the format, the works are a representation of the artist’s emotional world. As such they’re empathetic, tender, and full of longing. As the artist describes, "I want these fragments to describe the world we live in, or wish for."
Bio
Chen Wei Ting (he/him) was born in 1991 in Tainan, Taiwan. He is based in Tokyo, Japan where he lives and works.
Accolades
In 2022 Chen Wei Ting was selected by CAF award (Contemporary Art Foundation). In 2021 Chen Wei Ting won the prestigious Japanese Shibuya Awards. His successful poem and painting were titled There is another me in the ocean (2021). They were selected for both the Grand Award and Audience Award categories. His works are also collected by the Lihpao Cultural Art Foundation and the Taichung Dali Art Park.
Did you know?
Chen created a 'Keep In Balance' Lamp during the Covid pandemic. It featured a panda on a ball, with flowers and dandelions in its hands. It symbolized the fleeting, delicate balance needed to stay alive and well – with a shimmering light to bring hope and joy.
