Chan Yu

(born in Chongqing, 1982)

“I Gradually Lost My Sense of Time”, 2007

Acrylic on canvas:100 x 80 cm

Titled, signed and dated on reverse

Notes

Chan Yu was born in Chongqing, but his family moved to Hong Kong when he was two years old. As a teenager he chose to return to his Chongqing and studied at one of the most prestigious art schools in China, The Sichuan Fine Art institute.
Describing himself as someone who is listless while studying, but calm and disciplined when painting, he paints overlapping images of toys and cartoon characters that appear blurry, yet are clearly distinguishable.
In the hope of capturing the innocence and purity of his childhood dreams, fantasies and hopes , he depicts images of the toys and games that surrounded him or that he wished to have as a child.
His paintings capture attention because of his play on colours that both contrast an complement on a single canvas.
While maturing and evolving, he includes cartoon portraits of men dressed in office attire, real characters from his life and historical personalities; his art reflecting the process of growing up.

Education: Bachelor Degree in Oil Painting from Sichuan Fine Art institute; Postgraduate studies in Oil painting from Sichuan Fine Art Institute, 2005

Exhibitions:

2003    The first group oil painting exhibition in Chongqing, China
2004    "99 – 04 Creating Achievements Exhibition", Sichuan Fine Art institute,
2006    Contemporary Art from Chongqing, Macdonald Stewart Museum, Guelph University, Canada
2006    Right now in China", Solo exhibition. Prune Vidal Gallery, Saint Tropez, France; "Tale of two Cities", China Art Seasons – Beijing, Jakarta Singapore.
2006    "Our Toys, Our Dreams and our Childhood", 82 Republic Opening Exhibition, 82 Republic, Hong Kong
2006    "Magic 8", 82 Republic, Hong Kong
2007    Group Exhibitions of Young Contemporary Chinese Artists, 82 Republic Art Singapore 2007, Singapore
2008    "The absence of Self & The Presence of Images", Connoiseur Art Gallery Hong Kong.
2009    partaker at "Scope Basel", Basel Switzerland

Awards:

2004 Excellence Prize in the 11^th Annual Works Exhibition of the students of Oil Panting Department of Sichuan Fine Art Institute, China
2005 Excellence Prize in the 3rd Annual Works Exhibition of the Postgraduate students of Sichuan Fine Art Institute; Excellence Prize in the 10^th and 12^th Annual Works Exhibition of the students of Sichuan Fine Art Institute, China

Click photo to enlarge

Category
Modern 20th -21st century

Subject Matter
genre