For the group’s choice of exhibition, we went to, Memory Prints: The Story of Phillip Chen. This exhibition was in the Museum of Chinese in America, located in 215 Centre Street New York, NY 10013. Continuing the group’s theme of Asian artists, Observing Phillip Chen’s art was certainly the right choice. Its innovative presentation and the unique content of the art remain memorable. This was a solo exhibition by Phillip and it presented fifteen of his etchings, with his family as a center theme. These prints significance was shown based on what the drawing is telling the viewers. From the Chinese Exclusion Act, which prohibited Chinese laborers from the United States, to the racial violence, Phillip showed it all. Phillip’s emotions and thoughts were palpable and placed the people in his shoes and brought us to his world.
To understand the art, we must understand the artist. Phillip Chen was born in Chicago, Ilinois and Phillip received his bachelor’s from the University of Illinois and master’s in fine arts from School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His print media’s national and international fame was immense. His art has been shown over one hundred and fifty locations and was held by Brooklyn Museum, Carnegie Institute Museum of Art, Art Institute of Chicago, San Francisco Museum of Fine Arts, and Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, located in Beijing. He has served in many programs an evaluator. These programs include: College Art Association, National Endowment for the Arts, and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Phillip Chen was a Professor of Drawing and Printmaking at Drake University.
Phillip’s deliberate exhibition of family’s story, background, and struggles through his artistic work made his art genuine and realistic. For example, one of the prints was inspired by his great grandfather, who was a miner in California and another print was based on his uncle, who owned a restaurant that served African Americans in the 30’s. These hardships depicted in the art form through Phillip’s style could not have attracted our eyes any better. Not only did this exhibit contain his own works but objects that have been passed down from previous generations. This eclectic exhibition would help create a better insight into how one Asian American artist interacted with the world around him.
