Yen Yen Chou
Yen Yen Chou is an artist based in Taipei, Taiwan, and Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Pratt Institute with an M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing in 2018. She has participated in several group exhibitions at spaces including Dinner Gallery, New York, NY, iidrr Gallery, New York, NY; Fridman Gallery, New York, NY; Tchotchke Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY; Chinatown Soup, New York, NY; Gallery Cubed, New York, NY; Prince Street Gallery, New York; and SPRING/BREAK Art Show NYC. Yen Yen has also curated shows at SPRING/BREAK Art Show NYC and Tutu Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Yen Yen Chou: To me, growth means continually learning more about myself, exploring my potential, and experiencing the world. It's something I'll never stop seeking.
Collect Bean: How does your painting process look like from start to finish?
Yen Yen Chou: My painting process typically begins with a few sketches in my sketchbook or on Post-it notes. Once I've decided on a composition, I use epoxy clay to build a relief surface on a wood panel, followed by applying several layers of gesso and sanding for smoothness. If necessary, I may add additional elements or details to the clay body. Finally, I start by painting a solid color over the surface, then progress to adding color gradients and finer details.
Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?
Yen Yen Chou: Color plays a crucial role in my practice, particularly in my paintings. To me, it's what infuses the work with energy and brings it to life. In my recent paintings, I've used fluorescent colors such as red, orange, yellow, green, and blue as the primary palette and then expanded from there. Working with a somewhat restricted palette has been helpful, as it allows me to discover surprises when mixing colors and experimenting with different combinations.
Collect Bean: Are there any recurring themes or motifs in your art, and if so, what do they represent to you?
Yen Yen Chou: My work explores the themes of transformation and the relationship between humans and nature. I believe that everything is interconnected in a way, and has the potential for metamorphosis. Currently, I’m using motifs from both the natural world and human experiences including raindrops, rainbows, clouds, flowers, mushrooms, and sweets and snacks to create a whimsical and magical world. These motifs symbolize for me the concepts of fluidity, change, interconnectedness, joy, and pleasure.
Collect Bean: How do you approach the balance between experimentation and consistency in your art?
Yen Yen Chou: Drawing serves as the foundation of all my work, allowing me to put thoughts into realization and maintain consistency in my practice. As for painting, I tend to embrace experimentation more frequently because of the relatively larger scale and the diverse range of materials I use.
