About Kaiyan Chu

Kaiyan Chu is an artist born in Ningbo, China and obtained a BA from Minzu University of China in 2018, and an MA from Royal college of Art in 2020. Chu was shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding Overseas Young Artists Nomination Scheme’ of KuArt and won the Academic Nomination Award, and has exhibited in various institutions internationally including 508 Gallery in London and Museum of Minzu University of China in Beijing.

Kaiyan Chu’s works are inspired by his experience of adolescence, which entailed a beautiful phase in his growth. At that stage, he remembers being sensitive, pure and brave. ‘A small event could stir up ripples in my hearts’, he says, ‘and what I did is to trace those ripples. But I don't want to hold those emotions too tightly, I filter the intense parts hoping to express them in an implicit, silent and static way.’ For the artists, the medium of painting is an introverted, quiet act. His aim is not to show accuracy related to narrative but using the medium to turn to other extremes. ‘I hope that my painting can become a ground of imagination and emotion, connecting the audience and the story in the painting, or arousing another story in the viewers’ mind.’

Education

2020 Royal College of Art, London, MA Fine Art MA

2018 Minzu University of China, BA Fine Art

Selected Exhibitions

2020 Josh Lilley Gallery, London (shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding Overseas Young Artists Nomination Scheme’ of KuArt and won the Academic Nomination Award Beacon)

2020 50/50, Fold Gallery, London) 

2020 RCA2020, Royal College of Art, London

2020 Art Works, Canadian National Academy of Arts & One Art Gallery, Markham

2020 Snapshot, Hockney Gallery, Royal College of Art, London

2020 National College Students' Art Exposition, Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, Wuhan

2019 Youth Art 100, Guardian Art Center, Beijing 

2019 Backward Reading, 508Gallery, London 

2019 Life Drawing Open Exhibition, Salvation Army Hall, London

2019 Ten Thousand Green Art Fair, Block Sixteen Innovation Garden, Shenzhen

2019 WIP Show, Royal College of Art, London

2018 Graduation exhibition of Academy of fine arts of Minzu University of China, Art Museum of Minzu University of China, Beijing

2016 Fog, Museum of Minzu University of China, Beijing