Chemin Hsiao (…, b. 1984, Taiwan) is a visual artist based in Queens who recently completed a mural painting on the rolling gate of J and J Pizzeria (40-13 82nd St, Jackson Heights), formerly Zaytoun, as part of the Art- Site Public Art Commissioning Project. His drawing/painting practice “aims at capturing the personal emotions toward subjects or atmosphere via the elusive connections from memories with the medium of watercolor or acrylic pigments. He sits with plants, animals, people and their surroundings with time, moment by moment, and lets himself be unconsciously revealed from the process of painting, hoping to build a connection with people by sharing deeper universal emotions through the action of painting,” he says.
In 2018, he was selected as one of 15 artists to participate at the Kingsbrae International Residence of Arts in St. Andrews, Canada. In 2017, he received the New Work Grant from Queens Council on the Arts for an individual exhibition, Sitting with the Garden, at the Queens Botanical Garden, where he painted about 50 watercolor pieces inspired by the garden through three seasons. (www.cheminart.com)
QG: It sounds like you do your work meditatively. Is that correct? If so, what does meditating, or quieting the mind, do for perception?
CH: Yes, I would agree painting is such an experience for me. It is an action to remind us to live and express ourselves fully at the moment. Many of my students mention they feel therapeutic or soothing effects while painting, and I do believe that’s one of the most important qualities of painting.
QG: Do you do any other kind of work (day job) or art projects?
CH: Besides being a professional artist, I also teach as a watercolor painting workshop instructor at various organizations such as Queens Botanical Garden and Abrons Arts Center. My method of instruction is based on the traditional brushwork from Asian calligraphy, and further combined with the foundational knowledge of western watercolor painting techniques. The core of my teaching is to encourage my students to slow their hands to meet their eyes, to truly observe and enjoy the activity of seeing with drawing and painting.
For personal practice and fun, I usually have my sketchbook with me and enjoy drawing all the different people on my subway commute in the city.
QG: How long have you lived in Queens? What do you like to do here/places to go?
CH: Since my arrival in New York City from Taiwan to pursue my artistic career 10 years ago, I’ve always lived around Queens.
I love Queens for its residential quality, and simply feel there are more natural elements, trees in particular, in the area, at Corona Park for instance. Also, there are many Asian supermarkets where I could get some of the vegetables I usually ate in Taiwan. Normally you don’t see them in Western grocery stores. Being away from my home country for so long, food serves as a very comforting element. There are also many restaurants which serve delicious food from Taiwan, Thailand, China, Singapore, India, and Japan.
I love going to Flushing Meadows Corona Park and visiting the Queens Zoo for the Andean bears, pudús, and owls; and Queens Botanical Garden for some quiet time and to see the season changes on full display in nature every time I go – from snowbell, tulip, cherry, orchid, and rose to bare trees. Also eating all the delicious Asian food in Flushing and Elmhurst is always a treat.
QG: Did you major in art in college? Other major?
CH: I earned a master’s degree in Illustration as Visual Essay and a bachelor’s degree in Animation at the School of Visual Arts.
QG: Any other major interests/activities you’d like to tell us about?
CH: I love basketball and baseball as both sports are quite popular in Taiwan. Being able to shoot some baskets becomes a rare treat as New York is much colder than Taiwan most of the time. I miss that a lot.
QG: What excites you about the near future? Any distant future goals? What’s ahead for you professionally?
CH: Following the mural painting at the rolling gate of J & J Pizzeria (former Zaytoun restaurant) for the ArtSite Public Art Commissioning Project supported by Queens Council on the Arts and 82nd Street Partnership, I look forward to another two mural projects, one in the Flushing area supported by QCA’s New Work Grant and another in Elmhurst Sculpture Park sponsored by the Queens Art Intervention program initiated by the RPGA Studio.
This year is also the second time I participated as a teaching artist-in-residence at the Nan Shan Senior Center in Flushing via the SU-CASA program, which aims to positively impact the wellbeing of seniors through art activities. It’s very rewarding to witness the seniors enjoying the art projects. Lastly, I continue to teach the seasonal art workshops at Queens Botanical Garden.
—Annette Hanze Alberts
This column was originated in July, 2013 by Nicollette Barsamian.
Leave a Reply