“There are certain feelings buried in my mind that resemble the traces of past memories or the remnant of old emotions, which, after the lapse of time, have reappeared in the form of chaos hovering above my head.”

Chen looks to natural objects as his primary source of inspiration. To him, the sight of a withered tree always evokes a sense of the out-of-place. Its ancient, twisted state starkly contrasts its lush surroundings. The tree conveys “the passage of time,” and the artist is left mesmerized and unable to remove his gaze.

“Every natural object represents the chaos of the universe. When the object ceases to grow, the chaos that drives and sustains life seems to leave debris or dust in its wake, a kind of memory snap shot. I obey the calling of this chaos. I adhere to the pre-existing texture. Yet I still express myself in a manner that befits the calling,” says the artist.