Casey Chen

Casey Chen blends childhood nostalgia with long-standing East Asian ceramic traditions. He applies his imagery to hand-thrown plates and vases, which are then fused with geometric patterns from traditional sources. The result is a cultural pastiche and a dynamic conversation between traditional craft and contemporary perspective.

Casey’s recent work draws on imagery and motifs from the archetypal tales of Chinese literature's four great classic novels: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Water Margin, and Dream of the Red Chamber. He also draws on characters from animations such as Gundam, Doraemon and Astro Boy.

Guided by a commitment to Asian cultural tradition, Casey’s techniques reference traditional ceramic methods – vessels are hand-thrown on the wheel and then meticulously decorated with applied imagery. These intricate details are achieved using Chinese Doucai porcelain painting techniques, involving the application of cobalt underglaze and enamel overglaze painting.

In Casey's creations, the past and present seamlessly converge, allowing his practice to exist at the intersection of the traditional and the contemporary, with form and function merging, much like historical vessels produced in the porcelain factories of Jingdezhen.

Casey’s work serves as a testament to the enduring beauty of tradition and its boundless capacity to inspire contemporary artists and artistic conversations.

[ceramic story] I am interested in revitalising traditional motifs and themes through contemporary sketches and pop culture references. Keeping oriental ornamentation in mind, I draw inspiration from historical illustrations that encompass an eclectic blend of folklore, mythology and pop culture. My aim is to create a cultural pastiche that invites the audience to engage in a conversation about the role of traditional craft within a contemporary perspective.

[digital connection] As a child, June Kim used to imagine the characters in her storybooks were alive. The digital painting exhibited with Casey's work merges characters and motifs from his ceramic pieces with imaginative patternmaking inspired by William Morris and the characters come to life with augmented reality.

Big Robot 4, 2022
35.5 x 15.5 x 15.5 cm

Glitterbomb, 2022
42 x 29 x 29 cm

Big Robot 1, 2022
38 x 20.5 x 20.5 cm

Loving Cup, 2022
19 x 10 x 25 cm

All works - glazed porcelain, ceramic colourants, enamels and gold lustre; fired four times
Private Collection

Casey Chen is represented by N.Smith Gallery, Sydney.

Image top: Casey Chen, Big Robot 1, 2022. Photo: Robin Hearfield