Fuen Chin
Born: 1979
Hometown: Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Based in: Sungai Petani, Kedah
Fuen Chin is an artist who grew up in Kedah state, Malaysia. Her art takes inspiration from horticulture which is a nostalgic reflection of her childhood. Both her late grandparents were Chinese from Southern China with backgrounds in Chinese herbs and medicine, running a small herbal shop. It was there where Fuen learnt the importance of Chinese herbs and the stories around them.
It is these stories and her visions about plants that provides an endless inspiration for the calligraphic floral paintings. Starting out as a self-taught artist, Chin eventually studied a Fine Art research degree at the Royal College of Art.
She has worked on an art installations, citing the following response from the panel of judges: ‘We very much enjoyed your proposal and presentation and thought there were a lot of interesting possibilities that may emerge from your works.’ She continues to work and develop her calligraphic paintings using Chinese ink within a more contemporary context.
27 works for sale
More About Fuen Chin
What inspires you?
The horticulture-related phenomenon. It is a nostalgic reflection of my childhood. I spent most of the time in the herbal shop ran by my late grandparents, where I established the first contact with Chinese Calligraphy. In the shop, each drawer could accommodate 4 types of herbs and the Chinese names were written on the outside of the drawers.
Describe your creative process.
I work a lot with sketchbook, a lot of drawings, scribbling, collages, etc. to explore motifs, methods and processes for the new paintings series. I love to do paintings series, as if each painting has a following chapter.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Abstract Expressionism, Work In Progress, Florals
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Lee Krasner, Claude Monet, Sir John Everett Millais
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Black colour.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
The panel very much enjoyed your proposal and presentation and thought there were a lot of interesting possibilities that may emerge from your calligraphic painting.
Where do you go for inspiration?
Reading and scribbling. These processes set my mind free travelling for inspirations.
Credentials
Education
Royal College of Art
United Kingdom, 2018
Exhibitions
Calligraphic Floral Paintings by Fuen Chin
2019
The Storytelling Wardrobe
2016
The Storytelling Wardrobe II
2016
The Storytelling Wardrobe III
2018
The Storytelling Wardrobe - Inheritance, Death, Absurdity I, Pause I, Absurdity II, Pause II
2018
Storytelling the Void in the Chinese Pictographic Writing System
2018
Hypermorph Garden 2.0 Virtual Exhibition
2020
Education
Royal College of Art
United Kingdom, 2018
Exhibitions
Calligraphic Floral Paintings by Fuen Chin
2019
The Storytelling Wardrobe
2016
The Storytelling Wardrobe II
2016
The Storytelling Wardrobe III
2018
The Storytelling Wardrobe - Inheritance, Death, Absurdity I, Pause I, Absurdity II, Pause II
2018
Storytelling the Void in the Chinese Pictographic Writing System
2018
Hypermorph Garden 2.0 Virtual Exhibition
2020