Celine Chan
- Art Loving Team
- Jan 20
- 18 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Celine Chan - Hong Kong
Celine Chan Bio
Celine Chan is definitely one of the most dazzling emerging female artists in Asia these past few years. This talented young artist studied in Canada and Hong Kong and she is now being an artist focusing on creating her paper-quilling artworks. Celine’s artwork shows a really strong personality and the beauty of life. She has received many international awards including nominated by Sovereign Asian Art Prize 2021, the Finalist Award of the InternationalArtists Grand Prize Competition in Taiwan and the Talent Prize Award and Honorable Mention Awards of Portrait III organized by Art Show International Gallery. She is currently a full member of the Women’s Artist Association of Canada.
Celine Chen is a novel artist in Hong Kong. She studied in Canada and further her studies in design at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Inspired by the Russian paper quilling master Yulia Brodskaya, Celine never stopped practicing and devoted herself ardently to the creation of paper quilling art. Her artworks have a strong personality, with gorgeous integration of Oriental culture. She is one of the few Asian artists engaged in the creation of paper quilling. Her works are glamorous and trendy, always demonstrating her passion for life and beauty. Her works are collected by many local and international celebrities.
Celine Chan Artist Statement
Paper quilling is as gorgeous as oriental embroidery, and deeply loved by people. Paper quilling is not a simple process combination. Its beauty is through the delicate jade hand, skillfully using small pliers, according to the dense small lines already drawn, like the fine craftsman of timers, aiming at the works of art that are pasted into a picture, by every single trace, color and roll. One single mistake will cause the work to be redone all over again. Therefore it is fair to compare the making of paper-quilling with the making of timers. Paper quilling is an art originated from the British royal family and aristocrats in the 18th century. According to researches, this is an art emerged from the superior roll paper works made by religious woman (or nuns) to glamorize their religion. Such a good intention. These works, with a little patience and creativity, have become a beautiful and artistic divine color art, which is deeply loved and pursued by the nobility.
The reason Celine likes doing paper quilling artwork because she feels calm and peace when she focuses on pasting those paper pieces to the composition carefully. Paper quilling definitely needs a lot of patience and perseverance to complete. It is a very difficult process and it is such an unforgiving art form. But on the other hands, it gives people enormous satisfaction and sense of fulfilment after finished making the whole artwork.
She wants to express the psychological side of human beings and the attitude of how people face problems through her artworks, giving them the power to be more resilient to difficulties. Also, she believes that the power of love can break through the gap of light leakage in the darkness., therefore, she wants her viewers can feel that positive spirit towards life.
How did your interest in paper quilling begin, and what motivated you to make it the central focus of your artistic work?I am a self-taught artist. I have always liked delicate, beautiful, and creative things. I fell in love with paper quilling artworks when I saw some fantastic paper quilling creations at a bookstore in Canada. It amazed me immediately. I realised that paper quilling is the best form to express myself. My heart was full of excitement when I started making my paper-quilling artworks. From being a person who didn’t know many techniques or theories of making decorative art, I have practised repeatedly, learning through trial and error. Eventually, I managed to master the core skills of creating paper quilling art.
I am very demanding of myself; I always push myself hard enough to break through my limitations, striving to do the best I can. I am a sensitive person as well as a perfectionist.
I enjoy creating paper-quilling artworks because I feel calm and peaceful when I focus on carefully pasting those paper pieces into the composition. Through my artwork, I aim to express the psychological side of human beings and the ways people face challenges, offering them strength to become more resilient in the face of difficulties. Additionally, I believe the power of love can break through even the smallest slivers of light leaking into darkness. Therefore, I want my viewers to feel that positive spirit towards life.
You’ve mentioned that Yulia Brodskaya is one of your greatest inspirations. How do you feel her influence is reflected in your work, and at what point did you feel you had developed your own unique style?Yulia's artworks are beautiful, and she has inspired my paper-quilling creations. After seeing her work around 2014, I began creating my own paper-quilling artworks. This marked the start of my artistic journey, and I have since continued to develop my passion for art. Over time, I gained more knowledge about art and had many extraordinary experiences. I discovered that I could infuse my emotions into artistic creation and express them through art. Emotions reflect the era we live in and everything that happens around us.
As a paper-quilling artist, I hope to create works that stand apart and break through the limitations of the art form. I aim to make paper-quilling artworks more three-dimensional, pushing beyond the inherent boundaries of the medium and exploring the potential of both two-dimensional and semi-three-dimensional art. Given that paper-quilling art naturally has three-dimensional attributes, I want to take this further, creating artworks that perfectly combine two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements.
As one of the few Asian artists specialising in paper quilling, do you feel a sense of responsibility or pressure to represent Asia in this artistic field?As an Asian artist, I feel a responsibility to convey ideas and culture, but I also believe it is equally important to express my personal ideas and views through a unique artistic language. Art has no national boundaries. Every artist shares the same goal: to integrate and communicate with the world through their unique art forms.
I don’t feel too much pressure because globalisation has given artists from different countries greater opportunities to showcase their talents. Moreover, the widespread use of online social platforms has made people more accepting of diverse cultures. Whether artists come from Asia or Europe, as long as their works embody unique ideas, they can hold great value.
Paper quilling demands meticulous precision. Could you walk us through your creative process, from conceptualisation to the final assembly?When I create my works, I first study the theme of creation from a historical perspective, understand the core meaning behind history, and then try to figure out the characteristics of the subject characters. I also try to feel the characters' stories personally, such as after visiting cities related to the creative theme. I aim to express the concept of the characters in the artwork more perfectly with innovative thinking to truly understand the idea of the creative theme.
Paper quilling requires a great deal of patience and perseverance to complete. It is a complicated process and an unforgiving art form. It is a challenging task to express abstract concepts and the unique aspects of the subject characters. I have been very strict in all aspects, including composition, colour application, texture processing, and even the selection of elements in the picture. While composing the painting, I also think about transforming the image from a flat surface to a three-dimensional format and try different ways to use paper to create shapes, hoping to break through my connotation and technology of paper quilling art. Finally, all the elements are combined to form the final piece. You cannot make mistakes during the production process because they will affect the aesthetics of the picture, so you need to concentrate on creating it carefully. However, after I finish the entire artwork, it provides enormous satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment.
Your works, such as Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone, have a strong connection to mythological figures. How do you choose these subjects, and what message do you aim to convey through them?The goddesses in ancient Greek mythology are considered to be some of the most beautiful and powerful female figures in mythology, including Aphrodite, Artemis, and Persephone. Each goddess represents a different realm and attribute, such as wisdom, beauty, love, war, hunting, family, etc. Their images have been widely used in literature, art, architecture, and other fields and have become an important part of Greek culture.
Most people appreciate their beauty, but few explore their inner world and the meaning of their existence. Although the Greek goddesses are all perfect, they encounter various difficulties and setbacks in their world, just like mortals. As society progresses, women's status has dramatically improved, and they play an essential role in the workplace and society. Despite this, many women around the world still suffer from various forms of unfair treatment and face numerous difficulties in culture, life, and emotions. They endure significant psychological pressures, work hard, and carry heavy burdens under tremendous stress. Their problems may include gender discrimination, marriage, and class-based unfair treatment.
I want to interpret these goddesses from a different perspective and show their attitudes and methods when dealing with problems. I hope that women facing challenges similar to those of the goddesses can understand how to address issues through my artwork. When facing difficulties, one should not dwell on them. I hope they can be like Aphrodite, who was tortured by fate but never gave up on herself. Ultimately, she achieved her desires through effort and perseverance, striking back at fate.
The goddess Aphrodite embodies love and beauty. Although she faced the unfair treatment of being forced into marriage by Zeus, she chose not to give up on herself. Instead, she responded to the problem with self-improvement. I aim to express Aphrodite's elegance and character through my artwork. She confronted difficulties head-on, continually learning and improving herself. She did not allow the misfortune of her fate to overwhelm her, nor did she succumb to tears. The choices one makes under pressure test a person’s courage. The greatest courage in life is elegance under pressure. No matter how difficult the circumstances, one should maintain the pursuit of excellence and face all challenges calmly. Only in harsh and challenging environments can one find new ideas.
If we learn to care for ourselves, be kind to our pain, and tolerant of our shortcomings, we can create positive emotional experiences. Only with positive emotional experiences can we inspire our courage to face stress.
The goddess Artemis grew up in a loving environment. She had everything and was Zeus’s most beloved daughter. Artemis was aware of the various conflicts and problems within her family. She chose to be sophisticated but not worldly, maintaining her true self amidst the chaos of the world and preserving her innocence and simplicity.
It is like a person who, in a humane society, possesses true wisdom. She does not become more tactful or sophisticated, nor does life temper her into mediocrity. Instead, someone who gains insight into the world and human emotions while remaining sincere can face life's ups and downs with resilience. In other words, after navigating life’s challenges, maintaining sincerity towards life and fighting spirit is the greatest triumph.
Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and later became Queen of the Underworld. If we analyse this story from Persephone's perspective, her stay in the underworld is not necessarily negative for her. Persephone possesses traits akin to Stockholm Syndrome. Initially, she may have been afraid of the underworld, but over time she began to accept her fate. Persephone, who lived under her mother Demeter's control since childhood, was later kidnapped to the underworld. Despite her fate, she remained thoughtful and reflective.
This mirrors the struggles of many women, such as those in India, who are born into inequality. Compared to women in other regions, they face harsher challenges but do not give up on themselves or complain about their circumstances. Instead, they continue building their resolve and face difficulties with strength and acceptance.
Colour and contrast play a significant role in your art. For instance, in pieces like Tai Chi Circle, there’s a striking harmony between vibrant tones and organic forms. Could you elaborate on the role of colour in your work?Yin and Yang react between heaven and earth, creating all things. Everything in heaven and earth comprises Yin and Yang, yet under certain conditions, Yin is also Yang, and Yang is also Yin. Like the balance of Yin and Yang in the Tai Chi Circle, this means there is Yang within Yin and Yin within Yang. By understanding the principles of Yin and Yang and avoiding extremes in everything, we can achieve balance and success in life.
This principle also applies to colour. Colour is a symbol that expresses human emotions, and the relativity of colours reflects the complexity of human emotions. Colour is an essential creative tool for me. I often use colour to express my ideas. Through colour, I communicate my strong feelings about the subject matter to the audience. The interplay of colours in my artwork Tai Chi Circle creates a powerful visual impact.
When choosing colours, I do not rely on theory or evidence. Instead, the selection comes from my inner feelings, which I strive to preserve during creation. By maintaining this purity, I can achieve inner balance.
In pieces like Red-Crowned Crane, you incorporate elements of Eastern culture. How important is it for you to reflect your cultural heritage in your art?
In the work of the Red-Crowned Crane, I skilfully combined traditional elements and modern artistic techniques, making it one of my favourite works. Art is a universal language for humanity, and the ideas it conveys are cross-regional and cross-cultural. It can be utilised and appreciated by people all over the world. Through my artwork, I aim to break language and cultural barriers so that more people can engage with and appreciate traditional Chinese culture.
Traditional culture needs to be protected and respected. As creators, we must seriously study and understand the precious heritage that history has handed down to us, and then use our unique artistic understanding and language to express how this culture is preserved and passed on.
Art is healing and transcends distinctions of country or region. At times, the artist seeks to bring joy to the audience directly through their work. Other times, a piece may not outwardly convey hope or positivity, but the audience may still experience psychological relief when engaging with it.
Many of your works appear to focus on themes of strength, independence, and feminine beauty. How would you describe the relationship between your art and women’s empowerment?
Many of my works explore women’s psychological states and their independent attitudes towards life. For example, in my Greek Goddess series, I aim to express through my artworks how different women confront challenges. I hope these pieces might even inspire a shift in some women's perceptions.
When facing difficulties, some women might embody the simplicity and resilience of "Artemis," embracing a hopeful attitude towards life and looking forward to the future. Others might resemble "Aphrodite," keeping their vulnerabilities hidden. Even when encountering significant setbacks, they remain composed and conceal their sorrows.
When Persephone first arrived in the underworld, she struggled to adapt to the sudden change. Yet, by learning to accept her pain, she found the opportunity for rebirth. This story illustrates that when something is taken from you, it can also lead to new opportunities.
Pain often sparks significant energy and creativity. It prompts reflection on our shortcomings and the valuable things we still possess. It is only in times of difficulty that people begin to understand and appreciate what is most precious in their lives. By accepting pain rather than resisting it—or even embracing it—our spirits can be uplifted, and we can experience profound spiritual growth.
Life is defined by its variety of experiences. The purpose of human existence is to navigate challenges and gain a deeper understanding of life's true meaning. Many perceive life as being filled only with pain, but I see it differently. Life is fair; it offers both painful and joyful moments. However, happy memories are often fleeting compared to painful ones. There is a saying that people remember painful events for up to five days, while happy events are forgotten in a few hours. This idea aligns with Ebbinghaus's concept of the forgetting curve. People tend to magnify their pain.
Of course, pain is difficult to endure, but it is also an inevitable part of life. Some women may feel unable to face it, choosing to give up or even end their lives. Others might take shortcuts to avoid confronting their challenges, yet still fail to resolve them. However, there are also women who face pain with courage and persistence, eventually overcoming their difficulties and emerging stronger.
How do you balance modernity and Eastern traditions in your work, particularly when blending mythology with contemporary design techniques?
Traditional culture and modern development are, to some extent, contradictory, yet they are also interconnected. As I mentioned earlier, traditional culture must be preserved because understanding its essence and discovering the beauty within it are fundamental to my creative process.
In my work, I strive to express my values and attitudes towards life with sincerity. I frequently incorporate traditional elements to communicate my concepts, drawing from sources such as Greek mythology, Western Indigenous totems, Chinese Taoism, and historical Chinese figures. These elements are not constrained by rigid concepts or techniques.
Through these traditional elements, I hope to infuse my innovative artistic language with a fresh perspective and meaning. I believe that both inheritance and innovation are vital for the progress of human civilisation.
Projects and Aspirations
You’ve participated in international exhibitions such as the WWArt Expo Shanghai and festivals like the Yan Tai Shan Fantastic Festival. How have these experiences impacted your career and your perspective on the global art scene?I am very grateful for the opportunity to participate in many international art exhibitions in recent years, such as the L.A. Art Show in Los Angeles, EuropArtFair in Amsterdam, Canvas Art Fair in Venice, the Bienal de Arte in Barcelona, and so on. As you have mentioned, the WWA EXPO in Shanghai and the Yan Tai Shan Fantastic Festival are of great significance to the development of my art career because the WWA EXPO is the first international art exhibition I have participated in since I officially became a professional artist. I can interact with many internationally renowned artists. I was honoured to exhibit works with famous artists like KAWS, Takashi Murakami, Hajime Sorayama and Zhou Chunya. I also learned a lot from their artworks, which had a lot of inspiration and positive influence on my subsequent creations. I think an artist should constantly learn and absorb different knowledge, continually seeking to break through their existing ideas and create new ones. They hope to find what they want to pursue. They may not be able to see the answer until the last moment of their lives, but as long as they persist in this belief, the artist's existence will have meaning.
Are there any new themes or techniques you’d like to explore in your upcoming projects?I am working on a new paper-quilling artwork called "Wu Zetian." I want the connotation and characteristics of "Wu Zetian" to be as close as possible and to display this to the audience, including her majesty as an emperor, to preserve her thoughts. While innovating, I put many ancient solemn elements in the artwork because Wu Zetian is also a person who likes innovation and is willing to accept new things. She has a heart for beauty and hopes I break through and innovate as much as possible. I think artists have the responsibility to inherit and reform; therefore, I must show the solemnity of "Wu Zetian" in this artwork and show the spirit of innovation to tell everyone that the protagonist in the painting is also a multifaceted character who can accept innovation. I want to express her in an all-round way. Because I know that "Wu Zetian" hopes to help all women, just like her perseverance in life once helped me come out of the darkness and can help other women in trouble.
For me, the combination of traditional and modern art is compatible. When researching "Wu Zetian," I got to know her experience and knew she was constantly breaking through herself and trying to overcome her difficulties. The difficulties she faced at that time were hazardous. She continued to meet challenges, reaching a higher level and breaking through difficulties layer by layer.
After I learned about Wu Zetian's life story, I understood why she hid her gentle side and only showed her strong side to the world. She wanted to give women a strong and tough image. She wanted to show people that women can be as strong as her and persevere despite their difficulties. Wu Zetian's perseverance helped me, who was confused then, and allowed me to stand up again.
Wu Zetian protected the inheritance of culture, and she was also a female politician who dared to accept new things. Her innovative spirit was experienced in her political reforms, imperial examination reforms, and talent promotion, and she established a gender balance between men and women in the feudal era. An equal society has proven her spirit of innovation one by one. She has contributed significantly to the innovation of female makeup and has a unique view of aesthetic concepts. Therefore, I also hope to learn from her innovative spirit and add new elements to my artwork so that tradition and innovation can be perfectly combined. Based on the characteristic of "Wu Zetian," who dares to accept new things, I hope to show it in this work of mine. A sense of traditional majesty can simultaneously show the spirit of innovation and more fully reveal the character of "Wu Zetian."
What advice would you offer to emerging artists who are interested in paper quilling and finding their artistic voice?If you want to achieve good results in everything you do, you must devote yourself to it, slowly learn experience from practice, maintain a peaceful mind, and take a broader view.At the same time, you need to believe in your dreams and keep moving forward after setting your goals. Just like the creation of paper-quilling art, you will encounter many difficulties during the production process, but as long as you deal with it calmly and keep thinking, all problems will be solved.
I have the following suggestions for people interested in creating paper-quilling: After setting the goal, try again, think from different angles, and allow yourself to make mistakes. Only by making mistakes can you achieve the desired results.Some people may think paper is fragile, but I don't. I compare the paper to life experience. Although one piece of paper may be easily broken, when ten pieces of paper, hundreds of pieces of paper, or even a thousand pieces of paper are stacked together, just like when countless experiences are put together, they become very hard. It will take a lot of work to break them. Just as life can be fragile, people's spirits can be strong.
Personal and Philosophical Questions
Your pieces have a strong narrative quality and seem imbued with philosophy and emotion. How much of your personal life or philosophical beliefs influence your work?
Art is an eternal communication language. Van Gogh's artworks helped me get through the rock bottom in my life; I didn't know much about his works then. I had only heard about his story briefly. When I looked at his paintings on the wall at home, I felt an unprecedented peace in my heart. When I encountered extreme difficulties, I thought that the whole world had abandoned me; I was so upset due to the abandonment of my friends and my family. The betrayal made me feel that I was the only one left in the world, as Van Gogh might have felt the same way. He was very lonely, and so was I. I did not know whom I should talk to, so I spoke to him every day and felt that Van Gogh was with me every day. He could understand my mood and help me get through the difficult moments. That's why art is an eternal thing that can communicate across time and space. It is not just about communicating with words. No matter how long time has passed, art can still communicate with us. It is a channel for communication across time and space.
Art and life can be harmonious and integrated. Everyone has the potential to be an artist and has their own aesthetic. Whether the public accepts their aesthetic is another matter. Art evolves from life. The more you experience, the more emotions you can put into your work.
Art is the bridge that makes life perfect. It constantly breaks through life's frustrations and turns imperfection into perfection. Making mistakes is OK. Some people will choose an imperfect life or even an incomplete life. Some parts also need to be completed. Every art has its form of expression, and both life and art have their shortcomings and unsatisfactory moments. Therefore, art and life are the same; they are not opposites.
In pieces like Clivia, we see a tribute to nobility and modesty. How do you choose these symbols, and how do they resonate with you as an artist?Every piece of my artwork contains some thoughts of mine, as well as some beautiful visions of my different periods, like telling some stories or some traces of life.Clivia was one of my early stage paper-quilling artworks long ago, which implies noble and unyielding, resolute and strong, simple and distinctive elegant quality. Its flower posture is solemn, elegant and graceful. Its charm is gentle, its flower fragrance is pure and upright, and its leaves are like swords. Its noble temperament has often been used to describe a human noble character in ancient China, which is modest and polite, talented but not arrogant, aspiring but not proud, and also not shrinking back for difficulty and poverty.“Clivia grows deep in the forest, nobody visiting yet still fragrant; A gentleman practises Dao and establishes morality, destitute yet his integrity remains unchanged.” Quoted by Confucius, one of the most famous sages of China.I love Clivia not only because of its beautiful outlook but also because of its elegant and refined temperament. Clivia blooms quietly and never competes with other flowers for beauty. It will not affect its charm even if it blooms alone in an empty room.Although there are some fears in our hearts, we can all strive to overcome difficulties. Although our world is changing every day and life has ups and downs, we can still keep our original intentions and the good wishes we believe in so that we can move on. When we look at this artwork, we can still think about our lives calmly and reflect on some of our experiences with a calm and pure heart in this chaotic era.
How would you define the relationship between beauty and art in your creations?True beauty comes from the heart; it exists in the meaning and not just on the surface of things. Artists hope to restore the true meaning of things. No matter what medium they use to create, they hope to express their inner thoughts truly. The most beautiful thing about art is that it can convey the message of love from its works, so artists should maintain their original intentions and create sincerely.
Get in touch with the artist
This artwork is called Aphrodite. This goddess gives people the power to love and be loved and helps people feel comfortable with their bodies. The characters in the painting have slightly drooped eyes and slightly tilted corners of mouth, but they show enthusiasm, confidence and glitters in their static state, which in a way elegantly and gently shows the beauty of women.
