CHEN WEI TING

Exploring the complexities of growing up, Chen Wei Ting's paintings yearn for the simplicities of youth. Often alone, his characters traverse a great expanse, pathetic fallacy colouring the emotional hue of the work, as shining sun-lit paths contrast with starless twisting roads and distant horizons.

Chen Wei Ting's characters are not overtly emotional; there is a reservation in both their sadness and their joy. Subtle shifts in the character's facial expressions, an upward tick or melancholic downturn to the mouth, transform the mood of each painting. Cartoonistic in style, the works speak to complex emotions surrounding loss, contentment, and loneliness. Symbolism highlights these themes, such as the recurring motif of the apple, an emblem of the artist's desire for peace and tranquillity. In 'First Time We Met', 2023, made on the residency, the artist's signature bear discovers an apple on the road that has stopped on its way. Chen Wei Ting's accompanying poem describes a journey with no end other than the horizon and the character's gentle acceptance of its slow approach.

The finished works are thoughtful and contemplative: Chen Wei Ting reflects on his own life moments with intimate consideration that translates into the meditative quality of the work.