Yaching Cheung

Relationship

Digital drawing

“My primary focus lies in exploring the dynamic relationship between architecture and the human body, aiming to convey the profound impacts of concrete structures and ambient noises in our lives. I am intrigued by artworks that evoke a visceral sense of movement within our bodies, whether they take the form of paintings, sculptures, or performances. In a society where immobility has become a prevalent issue within our daily routines, I am passionate about creating art that sparks a renewed sense of vitality and motion.”

— Yaching Cheung

About the artist

Yaching Cheung

American

I grew up in northern China. Since I was in primary school, I had already started learning drawing and painting. I attended an art school away from my hometown in preparation for the Art Academy, and I have always wanted to be an artist, a desire that never changed. For my Bachelor's, I studied at China Central Academy of Fine Arts. I completed one year of oil painting and anatomy classes to learn the basic skills necessary for a visual artist. Then I chose to study in the experimental art department, where my practices switched from visual art to conceptual art. During my undergraduate studies, I had my first group exhibition in The Bunker, which is a non-profit experimental art space located in Beijing. And I received a national scholarship from DAAD, allowing me to do an exchange semester in Offenbach HFG, Germany. During the time I was living in Frankfurt am Main, I worked on installation works and performances, which shown in Basis Frankfurt, Rundgang exhibition in HFG Offenbach and art festival Kunstansichten 2019.

My stay in Germany was essential to my artistic development; Over time, I was able to move to Berlin, where I was able to learn Butoh Dance. I started to find more interest in performing art, dance theater, and the convergence of visual art. While residing in Berlin, I started to develop my own artistic language. I went back to figure drawings, they aren't anything like bodies; they are disruptive and amputated, reflecting architectures and my dreams and mundane movements I observed in the city. I also started to collaborate and present my performance work; I am able to work with many great musicians and artists from Europe and China. In my performances, I talked about confined bodies, emotional traumas, and fear.

After my stay in Europe, I went back and forth between Beijing, India, Istanbul, and Berlin. In 2021, I moved to New York City to start my MFA in Integrated Media Arts department at Hunter College, where I have the chance to experiment with my physical drawings and dance with technology in public space, since we don't have any studio space available. During my time in NYC, I worked with many experimental musicians for improvisational dance performances, I also start to make my own avant-garde performances. My vision was widened in NYC, I got to see many amazing experimental theaters. Those experiences really helped me think about the concept and message I want to convey through my art.