Honoring the Artist: Yin Yong Chun

with Marion Wolberg Weiss

While the following conversation took place under unusual circumstances, the results were successful in capturing the aims and commitments of this week’s cover artist, Yin Yong Chun. Because Mr. Chun does not understand English, his son, Tom, offered to translate in a three-way conference call. Tom, who is a student at Syracuse University, was a most gracious coordinator, and although yours truly does not understand Chinese, there were times when laughter erupted from all three of us during a particular question or answer.

Q: Why do you like to paint eggs? (the subject of this week’s cover image). Eggs often represent fertility or the cycle of life.

A: I painted the eggs because they are a reminder of a Chinese festival on May 5. Every family eats eggs on this day. When people have birthdays, they cook an egg, too. Eggs are a symbol of celebration. But I paint other still lifes, especially porcelain.

Q: Did you go to the University to study art?

A: Yes. I studied art at a university in the northeast of China from 1979 to 1983, particularly oil paintings and educational art.

Q: What’s educational art? Oh, you mean art education. You studied to be an art teacher.

A: Yes. I taught art for three and a half years in China. I liked teaching but I like painting better.

Q: Before you came to America four years ago, did you have any other profession besides teaching art?

A: I worked at a newspaper where I designed logos and titles.

Q: Like a graphic artist. When you started to paint full-time, what subjects did you do? Were they still-lifes?

A: No. I did figurative paintings, landscapes, self-portraits, portraits of other people. Then in the 1990s, I started doing porcelains, fruits, things from everyday life.

Q: Do you have a favorite artist? And did he or she influence your own work?

A: I like Rembrandt, but I don’t paint like him.

Q: What then is most important to you when you paint? Color?

A: Color, yes, and composition. But most important are the skills that you have.

Q: How do you start one of your paintings?

A: I imagine in my brain what it will look like. Then I arrange objects on the table from what I imagined. I want to impress myself, and I feel I can move other people who see my paintings.

Q: How was it coming to New York? I bet it was some adjustment.

A: Yes. New York is very big, a variety of information and people. But there was lots of opportunity to study, go to museums.

Q: How did you become associated with Spanierman Gallery?

A: My wife, who has been my agent for ten years, took my paintings into Spanierman Gallery in New York one day, and Mr. Spanierman happened to be there, and he liked them.. It was a coincidence.

Q: Or fate. Speaking of fate, what do you think you will be doing in ten years?

A: There is no guarantee. But I will keep on trying to improve myself. I want to get myself into a position that’s better than myself.

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The cover art is courtesy of Spanierman Gallery where Mr. Chun’s work can be seen. Call the gallery at 212-832-0208 for information.