There is a fascinating combination of innovation and emotional depth in Yi-Chiao Chen’s work. It’s a harmonious blend of beauty, tension, and introspection, with evocative water imagery that draws viewers into a realm of meanings and interpretations. Her use of water as a recurring symbol captures a mystical dynamism, oscillating between haunting and serene qualities, offering a truly unique aesthetic experience.
Chen’s paintings, with their fluid and ephemeral quality, mirror the perpetual transformation of water. The fluidity of form and her technique of capturing motion within stillness evoke a sense of “frozen fluidity.” Her work presents an oxymoronic reality—an aesthetic that seeks transcendence while remaining rooted in human experience.
Chen’s art reflects a continuous state of becoming, echoing Thomas Weiskel’s concept of a “humanistic sublime.” The water imagery in her work, viewed through archetypal, psychoanalytic, and mythic perspectives, embodies a timeless allure. By depicting water as both a calming and potent force, Chen resonates with the mythological idea of water as a symbol of destruction and rebirth.
The interplay of light and dark in Chen’s color palette further reinforces this notion, as seen in works like “Blue 11.” Her fascination with “energy” is palpable, connecting her art to an eternal flow and imbuing it with a mysterious force. Chen’s art ultimately delves into existence, memory, and the sublime, reminding us of the interconnectedness between life’s fleeting moments and the timeless energy that underlies them.
Chen’s work goes beyond mere abstract shapes, serving as a gateway to deeper psychological landscapes. Her textures evoke a sense of childlike wonder, reminiscent of Charles Baudelaire’s concept of the artist’s “ecstatic gaze.” The blend of primal forces and psychological depth in her work evokes a sense of ecstasy, akin to a shaman journeying beyond the physical realm.
In interviews, Chen describes her art as a continual process of self-exploration and growth, where each piece reflects her evolving relationship with herself, her spirit, and the natural world. Her work transcends mere representation and language, becoming an extension of energy itself—an interplay of consciousness and nature captured in each brushstroke.
What makes Chen’s work so captivating is its ability to keep the viewer on edge. Her abstract compositions hover between clarity and obscurity, inviting individual interpretations. Chen’s art creates a sense of time woven into the fabric of the image, suggesting both permanence and impermanence, capturing a moment in a living tapestry of growth and transformation.