Artwork
A Great Disruption
A Great Disruption is a paint painting by the Contemporary Abstract artist Chen Sijia. It dates from 2022 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Great Disruption is a painting by Sijia Chen, a multidisciplinary artist known for large-scale works and public art installations. The piece is a collaborative effort that explores the experiences of migrant communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a dramatic, chaotic scene that subverts traditional Chinese landscape painting. It incorporates personal stories and images from migrants, reflecting their struggles during the pandemic.
Technique & Style
Chen's work blends traditional Chinese art forms, such as papercut, with modern techniques. The painting features bold colors, rough brushstrokes, and cut-out shapes, creating a sense of urgency and disruption.
Context
The artwork is part of Chen's ongoing series 'Cross the Water and Climb the Mountain', which explores the immigrant experience and references Chinese cultural heritage.
Artist & collection
Artist
Chen Sijia paints sharp, immediate scenes of daily upheaval. In A Great Disruption (2022), figures and objects crowd a tilted room, their edges softened by the brush yet unmistakably strained by change. The work sits in…
