Zekun CHEN

Environmental Art, Expressionism Art, Oil Painting  

“I do not expect to become a great painter like Picasso, but I hope through my paintings, to arouse more people to pay attention to environmental and ecological problems.” Artist Chen was born in June 1970 in Jingzhou, Hubei province, China. He began creating environmental and ecological themed paintings during his early career in Shenzhen.

He returns to his home town of Jingzhou, Hubei  province each year and is saddened to discover increasingly depleted and polluted rivers. He recalls in his childhood that people would draw water directly from the rivers to drink. His painting “Lost” was selected as a poster for the United Nations Environment Programme. Artist Chen continues to explore environmental themes in his painting and sculpture.

It is said that Abraham Lincoln, when he was President of the U.S., was advised to include a certain man in his cabinet. When he refused he was asked why he would not accept him. “I don’t like his face,” the President replied. “But the poor man isn’t responsible for his face,” responded his advocate. “Every man over forty is responsible for his face” countered Lincoln.

China also has an old saying, “physiognomy from the heart” means peoples’ appearance will be affected by their inner world. Artist Chen’s creation “Lie Detector” series depicts various facial expressions with yellow backgrounds to explore his “physiognomy from the heart” concept.