NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will present a graduate exhibition by Ju-Yu “Louise” Chen titled “Birds: Metaphor and Allegory” March 7-13 in Gallery 2 of the New Fine Arts Building. Chen will be honored with a reception at 6 p.m. Monday, March 12. Chen is completing her Master of Arts in art and the exhibition is the creative research project required by graduate students.
Originally from Taiwan, Chen was encouraged in the arts at an early age by her mother. In order to compete for admission into the most prestigious art school in Taiwan, she was required to study both traditional Chinese and Western art under several masters.
After earning a BFA from Taiwan Normal University, Chen taught art at the high school level for seven years. She moved to the United States in 1994.
In her current work, “Birds: Metaphor and Alelgory,” Chen is influenced by the ancient Chinese culture, by nature and by a deep concern for the environment. By using birds as a metaphor, Chen depicts profound life experiences that are often difficult to put into words. By expressing deep emotions through allegories and metaphor – true to traditional Chinese painting philosophy, she hopes the viewer will be able to resonate with them.
Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday.
More information on Chen and her work is available at www.louisechenarts.wixsite/louisechenartstudio.
