Bing Chen

I was a ceramic sculptor in China and I worked in a ceramic production area for several years. From 2016- 2021, I studied at the Glasgow School of Art.

I started by exploring the relationships between materials. I was fascinated by such profound dialogues that could be produced through the combination of contradictory materials, such as ceramic and steel, they were the main part of my sculpture installations. I also used plastic, wood, paper, and organic material alongside. They could reveal and emphasise the properties of each other, which showed me a material perspective of the idea of coexistence. Then, I expanded my practice into photography, writing, and filming. I was able to see more dimensions of matters by working across different disciplines and will continue to blend them together to vary my ways of thinking and working.

Recently I am doing research on contemporary craft. Mainly focus on the positive confirmation of the difference between contemporary art and crafts, rather than looking for their opposing qualities, and to see the connection between art forms without being influenced by the hierarchy in the aesthetic realm. Besides, exploring the possibility that a craft object’s qualities can be both concrete and conceptual. This research work has only recently begun. I am very interested in the value of craft in the contemporary aesthetic field, and I hope that I can continue to do it.

I aim to make more works to see how interactions and encounters between different mediums/groups could impact our reception in daily life and find out how people take care of the fragile parts of life through making, teaching, learning, encountering and cooperating. I am also looking forward to seeing my work could reflect my concern of understanding our place in cross-cultural communities, as well as in the natural world.

In 2017, I had an opportunity to study photography and pottery in l'Ecole européenne supérieure d’art de Bretagne in France as an exchange student. In the same year, my work was selected by Blanc de Chine -- International Ceramics Prize at Musée des Confluences in Lyon.

In 2020, the work I made for my undergraduate degree show was selected by RSA New Contemporaries and presented at the Royal Scottish Academy gallery in Edinburgh.