10 Questions with Hao Wen (Claudia) Chung

Hao Wen Chung, also known as Claudia, is a graphic designer and artist who was born in Taiwan and currently splits her time between residing in Taipei, Taiwan, and Brooklyn, New York. She continued her design education at Pratt Institute's Master of Design Management program after earning an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design. As a graphic and branding designer for numerous well-known firms in many industries, Claudia has always pursued her passion. More than designs, Claudia is constantly drawn to expressing her viewpoints through various mediums in art. She got her start in film photography at a young age, and she has a keen eye for detail when she photographs events. Late in 2019, Claudia released Hey, New York, an online picture book about her exciting time in New York from 2016 to 2020. She began utilizing ceramics as she continued her artistic studies and has been evolving into many exciting projects since 2020.

www.claudiachung.com | @claudiao_u | @possibility_of_becoming

ARTIST STATEMENT

Claudia helped brands in adding value through design. She has worked on extensive events, editorial, digital, and brand identity design projects. According to Claudia, design can be used to convey ideas visually. She is motivated more by carefully conveying the idea through visual language than by making things pretty. Although she is an accomplished designer with an eye for precision, her photography and ceramic artworks reveal another side of her that is emotive, free-spirited, and exquisite. The naturalness of things can be seen in Claudia's artwork. She is drawn to the natural shapes of commonplace items. She regards perspectives as impacting how something appears beautiful in photographs. In ceramics, she pays attention to the clay and goes with her gut instinct, creating organic shapes with an earthy appearance. Like her art brand name, "Possibility of Becoming," each of her creations has the potential to become something.

INTERVIEW

First, tell us a little about your background and studies. How did you start making art? And what inspired you to pursue a career in design?

Since I was a young child, I have enjoyed creating and crafts. I first started using a film camera in high school. Similar to how I feel now, I started off just wanting to document my life. I began by snapping images of the individuals nearby, which helped me train to have an observant eye. I've long kept my artistic endeavors to myself. I would've stored the images I took in an album, but I never showed them to anyone. Looking back, that was probably the first time I used art as a secure outlet for my feelings. Fortunately, my parents have always encouraged me to pursue my interests. Their unconditional support gives me the strength to follow my passion for art and design.
I studied graphic design at a design school in college. After graduating, I began working at a brand agency as a brand designer for three years before realizing there was still more I wanted to learn. To enroll in Pratt Institute's Masters of Design Management program, I moved to New York in 2016. I learned extensive abilities to connect brand strategy, business, and design during my two years of graduate school. And I continued working as a graphic designer and began producing more art and spending more time on it. Naturally, art and design evolved into two important facets of my existence. And I enjoy every second of building my life and profession around design and art.

What is your aim as an artist?

Like most other artists, I sought to communicate my ideas about the world, tell stories, and share them through my creations. Artists create art to express themselves. A conversation with the world is what art is all about. Just as writers and poets use words to share their ideas and stories, artists do the same with images and objects. As an artist, I strive to continue loving life and to always be passionate and enthused about it. I am sincerely looking forward to exploring and experiencing it. I want to keep expressing, visualizing, and disseminating my thoughts and perspectives about life and how I see it. It is straightforward, and I find it to be lovely.

Do you find any differences in your approach to art compared to your approach to design?

Absolutely. In the world of design, there is always a purpose. While art might just be an expression, design conveys ideas. Designs are the solutions to problems and are closely related to other elements like data and strategy. I believe that designers can never just focus on aesthetics. Design is a collaborative creative process that involves communication and decision-making in addition to strategy, planning, and understanding human behavior. While not having a reason or purpose is acceptable in any art, it is more personal. Compared to my design work, I see a lot of my artwork is closer to me as a person. It embodies my identity and the message I wish to convey. Making art necessitates ongoing introspection and self-reflection. In this regard, I would say that the approaches of art and design are very distinct from one another.

You work with visual design, brand identity, photography, and ceramics. How do you maintain a cohesive style? And what are the recurring elements you apply to all such different mediums?

I don't specify my style in design or art. However, contemporary arts and designs inspire me, which may have naturally influenced my aesthetic. I want to keep things simple while still having its details. I excel at simplifying complicated concepts into graphics that are appealing to the eye. Like Leonardo Da Vinci once said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Maintaining simplicity and keeping things minimal call for a strong emotional connection to the story as well as an awareness of the needs, objectives, and deliverables.
I'm always fascinated by raw things. I cherish maintaining originality in the subjects or media I utilize. For instance, I often only apply a thin layer of glaze on ceramic pieces because I want to show the clay's natural color and texture. Hand-building gives the sculpture an organic appearance because it is constructed piece by piece with the warmth of my hands. Even though it might never be as flawless as a wheel-throwing piece, I believe the flaws give my work character and a story.

What are your main sources of inspiration, both visually and conceptually?

Life experiences are a major source of my inspiration. I am a curious person that asks a lot of questions. I enjoy hearing about people's experiences and learning from them. Of course, I also enjoy visiting art galleries and museums. But I don't just find inspiration in the arts; sometimes, I discover that unexpectedly simple things in life inspire me much more. For instance, people-watching always makes me happy and creative. I get inspired when I see what other people are doing, wearing, and talking while I wait for the frequently delayed MTA in New York. It could be each person's individuality or the excitement from shocking events on the train. In general, watching what others are doing is inspiring. In addition, I have strong feelings about practically everything all the time. Whenever I experience emotions, I find comfort in art and find it to be my safe place.

Your claim, and art brand name, is "possibility of becoming." What do you mean, and what does it represent for you? 

In a book or article that I can't remember, I came across the phrase "a possibility of becoming," and it has been with me ever since. Every action we take in life, and every encounter we have, in my opinion, has the potential to help us achieve. Or perhaps we will constantly be changing and evolving. Every piece of art I create, as I attempt to establish a brand for my work, is one step closer to me becoming something greater—a better version of who I am. Also, it is something I will continue to strive to attain.

Let's talk about the public. What do you want people to read in your works?

I believe everyone has a unique way of connecting with art. Additionally, I believe that artists don't prefer to be perceived in a certain way. The works may not necessarily represent the artist as a whole but rather simply one aspect of them or perhaps just one notion. When I visit a museum or gallery, I like to stand in front of the artwork and just stare. I imagine returning to the moment the artist produced the masterpiece and trying to imagine what they were thinking and what they meant for me to see. I like turning the viewing experience into something personal, whether a painting, sculpture, digital, or even a performance.
The message I would most like to convey to anyone who views my work is the sincere joy and appreciation of creation. And hopefully, they will find a connection between some of their experiences and mine in my works. That would be a meaningful thing to me.

You have worked and lived both in New York and Taipei. What are the main differences between these two cities regarding the public and their relationship with art?

Unquestionably, New York is among the best cities for creatives; over the years, it has impacted many notable artists. Of all the cities in the world, New York stands out for its diversity and rich cultural heritage. I met the most fascinating people in New York City, particularly in Brooklyn. I think what makes the city so vibrant and stimulating are the people. People have a great deal of flexibility and space to put anything they want into the city. As a result, individuals view many artistic mediums, representations, and forms with a fair amount of openness.
Although a much smaller city, Taipei has a very diversified and open environment for everyone, not only artists. With more and more new artists emerging, the art world is booming. It draws more attention than ever to the arts and culture, which indicates that the interaction between art and the general public has significantly advanced in recent years.
I am fortunate to be influenced dramatically by both cities. I was raised in Taipei, and I have that city's culture ingrained in me. Additionally, New York shaped who I am now. I was incredibly motivated on my path by them all.

Is there any other medium or theme you would like to tackle in the future? Did you ever consider going into Crypto art? 

I constantly experiment with making ceramics, whether by adding new components or by different firing and glazing techniques. I'm now creating a ceramic vase and decorating it with yarn, trying out the soft texture on a hard object. Aside from that, I've recently discovered how therapeutic glass-making is. I intend to enter the such field in the near future. I think trying is where ideas and inspirations originate from. Crafting fascinates me the most since I like to build things piece by piece and have the finished products held. We are now creating digital art in the meantime. Even if it isn't an NFT, it is a future that all artists must adapt to. Maybe someday I'll contribute my artwork to the booming crypto art market. However, I'd say probably not till I have enough exploration in hand-making!

Finally, do you have any upcoming exhibitions or collaborations? Any new project you want to share with us? 

I'm working on a photo book that combines my love of photography and design. The photobook contains photographs I took while residing in New York from 2016 to 2022. My desire to publish my book has always been ingrained in me. The desire to implement the idea has never been greater, particularly after Covid. The images take us back to this time period when we all felt a little trapped but eventually adjusted to the new normal. I was in charge of photography, editing, design, and final print production of this book. It will be another profoundly meaningful personal project for me. To produce new projects, I'm also working with many artists, musicians, and designers. I'm excited to share more in the coming year. I am so thrilled about what the future holds.