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Unfold

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Unfold is inspired by a unique underground pattern created by a symbiotic living arrangement of fungi and insects. The idea of coexistence recalls my memory of communal living in Beijing's hutongs, where social interactions such as playing chess in shared public spaces was a significant part of daily life by inhabitants of the old courtyards. To signify it I painted several chess boards connecting the landscape. It was my first time using a grid in a painting. Contrasting to the mostly organic forms, the geometric shapes refer to the span of time and space to reflect on the disappearance of old neighbourhoods and its significance. On the right of the painting is a giant mushroom in front of a western-style barn. The ganoderma-lucidum, or Lingzhi, is widely treasured in East Asia for its medicinal power, and the barn refers to the disappearance of farmlands near where I live. Embedded in the splash are also an old doorknob, carved roof tiles and bronze statues from Chinese antiquity. Collaging these symbols together had been a challenge, however I enjoyed experimenting with proportions, colors and shapes, and seeing how they expand to various dimensions of space and history.

Foldable frame made for this piece

Where it's been: Blackwood gallery, University of Toronto Dignam Gallery, Women's Art Association of Canada, Toronto


Shipping and Availability

  • Ships to Canada, US, international
  • Available for local pickup

This piece will be prepared and shipped directly from and by the artist. The cost of shipping will be provided once you request to acquire it.

Additional Details

  • Ready-To-Hang
  • Framed
  • Original
  • Signed by Artist
  • Professional Installation Recommended
  • Insurance Protection
About the artist
About the artist

Huan Chen is a Chinese-Canadian visual artist who is interested in exploring the relationship between human and nature. She has undergraduate and Master’s degrees in chemical engineering, where she was exposed to issues on the environment, a topic of many of her works. Her recent works reflect upo, ... View full profile

Partial artist since 2026

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