In contemporary art, Junhan Shen emerges as a compelling voice, bringing together cultural identity, personal history, and folklore threads. Born in China and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Shen’s artistic journey took her to New York, where she graduated from the School of Visual Arts. Her work is a dynamic interplay between diverse cultural influences and individual expression.
Shen’s creative process is a refined dance that coincides with the personal and the cultural, the past and the present. Mainly inspired by Chinese ink painting, and she embraces the poetic quality of negative space and the nuanced play of ink tones.
“I enjoy delicate, detailed painting,” Shen reveals. “Realistic elements set against vast, open backgrounds evoke sensitive and tender emotions in viewers, leaving room for contemplation.”
Her works are full of metaphors and symbolism, often rooted in extensive research, including historical documents and fieldwork. Shen prefers the marriage of ink and paper as a bond that helps her create blurred images and express a deep inner sensitivity. Exploring cultural identity: “Braid with Blood” was created entre 2020 – 2023. “Braid with Blood,” is a powerful commentary on racial discrimination during the pandemic. The piece depicts three girls covering their eyes, ears, and mouths with hair braids, symbolizing the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” approach to racial prejudice. This work illustrates Shen’s ability to address complex social issues through her art, allowing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths.
One of Junhan Shen’s notable works is the “LUNA” 2019 series, created with ink on paper. This collection remains the nascency of Shen’s identity and experience as an artist in a foreign land.
Drawing from Chinese cultural symbolism, where the moon represents longing and reunion, Shen ingeniously incorporates her hair as a visual element. The hair gradually fades within a circular frame, simulating the waxing and waning of the moon. This clever artistic choice conveys a deep nostalgia when she thinks about her hometown.
Through “LUNA,” Shen continues to explore themes of cultural identity, personal experience, and the emotional landscape of two worlds. The series exemplifies her ability to blend traditional symbols and personal narratives while creating art, which inherits both culturally rich and intimately relatable.
Lately, Shen’s attention has shifted to exploring the fragmentation of personal identity through folklore. Her continuing series of large drawings incorporates ancient Chinese mythical creatures and plants, juxtaposing these auspicious beings with modern artificial settings. A method that allows Shen, as an artist, to dwell deeply on the search to gain meaning in the conflicts and fusions that align personal and cultural heritage. “Nature connects us, but sometimes society and politics divide us,” Shen observes. Her art invites audiences to navigate the space present in visual and the intellectual, encouraging reflection on the cultural, historical, and relationship of contemporary life.
Shen’s work has attracted attention in various exhibitions, including the September Primer and the group exhibition at the Macy Art Gallery in New York (September 2024). SVA Senior Show at the SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York (May 2024). Pin-Up exhibition at iidrr Gallery, New York (April 2023). XPeng POP-UP exhibition in several Chinese cities (May 2021).
Shen’s talent has been recognized with awards such as the SVA Silas H. Rhodes Scholarship (2024) and the LAA Art Acquisition, Nicky May Memorial Award for Art (2020). Additionally, her illustration series “Fox Escape” was shortlisted in the 10th “Hiii Illustration” International Illustration Competition (2023).
To delve deeper into Junhan Shen’s artistic world, visit Junhan Shen’s Instagram.
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