Yuyang Chen received her BA in Fine Art from the Chelsea College of Arts where she developed a interdisciplinary practice spanning deeply poetic installations and objects as well as enigmatic paintings, films and photographs exploring themes of self-identity and discovery. Drawing upon her own interests in literature, philosophy and psychology, Chen’s work encompasses candid and insightful meditations of the self, with her aim being to challenge the relationship between the viewer and the artist by inviting viewers to physically engage with her art in psychological, affective and discursive ways.
In Chen’s contemplative painting, she explored the notion of the bathroom as an exceptionally intimate space. The act of showering, a precious interlude in her day, becomes a sanctuary where she carves out time for herself. In the bathroom's embrace, vulnerable and exposed, she envelops herself in the warmth of cascading hot water, evoking a sense of returning to the mother’s womb. In those moments, she exists singularly in the world, seamlessly merging with the surrounding water. The canvas is a testament to this deeply personal experience, rendered in a palette of cold tones. Through this choice, she aims to articulate a mood that intimately resonates with the internal nuances of selfhood. This painting invites observers to immerse themselves in the layers of emotion and self-reflection embodied within the tableau of the bath, capturing the profound solitude and introspection intrinsic to this private sanctuary.