Qianxuan Chen
Interdisciplinary Design MDes
Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Specialisms: Ceramics / Installation/Sculpture / Contemporary Craft
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Qianxuan Chen
First Name: Qianxuan
Last Name: Chen
Specialisms: Ceramics / Installation/Sculpture / Contemporary Craft
Sectors:
My Location: Vancouver, Canada
University / College: Emily Carr University of Art + Design
Course / Program Title: Interdisciplinary Design MDes
About
Qianxuan Chen is an interdisciplinary designer and visual artist working at the intersection of material practice, feminism, and culture. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts and Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Design from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. As an Asian female artist/designer, Qianxuan investigates the complexities of women’s bodies and lived experiences within patriarchal structures. Her work emerges from material-based experimentation to evoke empathy, spark critical reflection, and contribute to ongoing feminist discourse. Qianxuan continuously explores the relationship between materials and meaning, challenging conventional techniques while developing innovative approaches that expand the boundaries of material practice.
Embracing Motherhood: No Little Thing
Embracing Motherhood: No Little Thing Discusses the complexities of maternal experiences, focusing on pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum realities. It does so through a multi-sensory and material-based approach, incorporating ceramics, textiles, glass, 3D printing, and interactive installations to challenge traditional representations of motherhood. It is informed by feminist theories, sensory design principles, and critical design perspective, aiming to create a more in-depth and embodied understanding of maternity. Also a curatorial effort seeking to provide a site for reflection on the emotional, physical, and social complexities of childbirth and motherhood in a gallery setting, the project invites people to use their senses (sight, touch, smell, sound) to engage with the objects on display. The intent is to create a means to open up reflection and conversation on maternal identity and potentially building emotional connections to the topic of motherhood. Throughout my work, it has been set as a means to consider maternity’s emotional, physical, and social complexities. Challenging passive viewing by creating an array of objects in glass, ceramics, and cloth and situating them in an immersive, participatory space, I have sought to challenge passive viewing, disrupt idealized portrayals of motherhood, and provide space for critical reflection.
Competitions
