HOLDING RAINBOWS

Chinatown Soup is delighted to present Holding Rainbows, an exhibition of works on paper and sculptural paintings by returning artist Yen Yen Chou, on view August 1 - 19, 2023. Please join us for a celebratory reception Friday, August 4th from 7-9 pm.

To see a World in a Grain of Sand

And Heaven in a Wild Flower

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand

And Eternity in an hour

– “Auguries of Innocence” by William Blake

For her second solo show at Chinatown Soup, Yen Yen Chou explores the multiverse of life forms that exist within our natural world, depicting microcosms of meaning and revelation hidden inside the smallest things.

Drawing inspiration from a period spent in Taiwan during the challenges of 2020, Yen Yen's creative process unfolded with watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper. Enclosed at her parents' place, the artist found solace in observing through windows and revisiting memories captured in photographs. Here, Yen Yen became inspired by the allure of rainbows, which elude touch while elevating the spirit, and infused paper and canvas with radiant hues in an attempt at holding the ephemeral beauty of passing moments.

Upon returning to New York, Yen Yen departed from traditional painting and ventured into sculptural relief, employing acrylic over epoxy clay on wooden panels to achieve textured surfaces. Yen Yen's subjects mirror the effect of these mediums, being familiar yet elusive. Clouds, raindrops, flowers, and mushrooms establish the foundation for a whimsical dimension with which we coexist but cannot grasp. With every brushstroke and sculptural contour, Yen Yen creates a kaleidoscopic portal to hidden organic realms, inviting viewers to contemplate the ever-changing web that surrounds us.

At the core of Holding Rainbows lies a thematic exploration of transformation and the intrinsic bond between humans and nature. Every feeling and impression we experience has the potential to metamorphose into something else, following the way of natural phenomena. Savor candied colors, immerse in the bittersweet urge to taste texture, and enjoy this visual symphony.

Yen Yen Chou is based in Taipei and Brooklyn. She graduated from Pratt Institute with an MFA in Painting and Drawing in 2018. Yen Yen has participated in a number of group exhibitions, including at Dinner Gallery, New York, NY; Fridman Gallery, New York, NY; The Boiler | Pierogi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY; Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Brooklyn, NY; Chinatown Soup, New York, NY; Gallery Cubed, New York, NY; and Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY. She has curated shows at SPRING/BREAK Art Show NYC and Tutu Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.