“Returning to the essence of art…”
Paul Zimmerman in conversation with Celine Chan
Paul Zimmerman: How did you get interested in art?
Celine Chan: During my time studying abroad in Canada, my art teacher, Ms. Jeri Canderan, provided me with profound artistic enlightenment through her unique teaching style. She encouraged us to explore our creativity without restrictions on materials and even allowed us to bring our supplies back to our dorms to continue working. This uninhibited approach enabled me to discover that artmaking offers a space for complete immersion, freedom, and relaxation. It became an outlet for my emotions in unfamiliar environments and sparked my genuine interest in art. This experience significantly impacted me. It taught me to respect my inner voice and solidified my decision to express myself through paper quilling.
After returning to China, I plan to continue pursuing my passion for art. My initial wish was to participate in an art exhibition, and fortunately, this dream came true in 2021 when my paper quilling artwork was publicly displayed for the first time at the WWART Expo in Shanghai, China. This milestone was pivotal in my artistic journey, reaffirming my commitment to this path. It taught me that creating a work of art can explore historical truths, tell the profound stories of historical figures, and reflect the complex human emotions that underlie them. I am fascinated by the possibility of incorporating my feelings and perceptions into my creations.
PZ: What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
CC: The biggest challenge is authenticity.
I long to reveal the inner truths of the characters, which demands extensive historical research and deep emotional immersion. I strive to understand their choices and values from the sincerest perspective. This process is incredibly exhausting. On a technical level, paper quilling allows no margin for error; even the slightest mistake necessitates a complete restart. This is particularly challenging during busy times, when I must force myself to remain calm despite the urgency of the moment. A deeper challenge lies at the boundary between the spiritual and the real. In my recently completed work, “Shine together with the sun and moon,” which is based on the image of the only empress of China, Wu Zetian, I underwent a three-year journey of “soul empathy.” Finding a way to bear such spiritual weight and safely transform it into a work of art without backlash remains an ongoing challenge for me.
PZ: What is your artistic process? How do you create your paintings?
CC: Once I decide on a theme, I conduct thorough research to understand the cultural implications of the subject matter. This helps me clearly identify my creative motivations and what I want to express.
After that, I perform numerous tests and small exercises, experimenting with various methods and techniques in quilling to depict the image and explore multiple possibilities. I carefully consider every aspect of the piece, striving to find the most suitable creative approach for each element, including shape, color, technique, three-dimensionality, texture, and underlying meaning. I analyze and test thoroughly to ensure the best possible outcome.
My quilling art begins with designing the image, where I first create a two-dimensional graphic and select the colors. Once the design is complete, I match the color to the quilling materials. Since quilling has limitations in color, adjustments may be necessary.
Then comes the most challenging part of the production process: developing specialized methods and techniques to transform the two-dimensional image into a relief or three-dimensional form. I also work on finding the optimal expression method to accurately represent the essence of the image.
PZ: Do you have any particular goal in mind when your start a new piece?
CC: I want to share moments of light in the darkness with my audience through my work. My early creations focused on feminism, stemming from a shared experience with many women: we’ve all faced difficult times and yearned for ways to rise again. Through my art, I aspire to convey a woman’s gentle yet resolute perseverance.
The creation of “Shine together with the sun and moon” represents a deeper exploration of my artistic philosophy. I have come to realize that strength is not exclusive to women; it is a universal language shared by all those who strive. This work is a tribute to Empress Wu Zetian, who provided me with spiritual guidance through her life story during my lowest moments. Moreover, I hope that by sharing her story, I can pass on this ancient strength to every soul searching for light in the darkness.
PZ: How do you know when the painting is finished?
CC: When the artwork embodies all the stories and emotions I wish to share, and when the message I want to convey has fully emerged on the paper, that is the moment the work is complete.
PZ: Has your practice changed over time?
CC: My creative journey has been one of continuous self-exploration. In my early work on “Tai Chi Circle,” I focused on the pursuit of beauty itself, attempting to express the formal beauty of paper quilling through my hands. With the Greek Goddess series, my focus shifted to feminism, where I began advocating for women facing hardship. This marked my initial connection to the struggles of a community. While working on “Shine together with the sun and moon” which is based on the image of the only empress of China, Wu Zetian, I experienced a profound awakening. I realized that true creation stems from a deeper connection. This shift allowed me to move beyond simply speaking for a specific group to empathizing with every individual who has struggled to survive throughout history. This connection enabled me to comprehend Empress Wu Zetian’s loneliness and determination, as well as to recognize the shared resilience and fragility of all striving lives.
The only constant in my work is my pursuit of three-dimensionality. This pursuit has long transcended the visual realm and evolved into a spiritual quest for truth. Achieving true three-dimensionality requires more than just visual depth; it demands creative, intellectual, and spiritual engagement. I need to deeply and comprehensively understand and reflect on the subject and its history. Only by genuinely understanding the subject can I grasp their thoughts and empathize with their feelings, ultimately achieving the most perfect three-dimensionality in my mind and accurately recreating history. “Empress Wu Zetian” also taught me that “truth is more important than perfection.” Just as she held the throne yet still had unfulfilled ambitions, life is full of trade-offs. Sometimes, imperfections themselves are an inherent part of real life.
PZ: Which artists are you most influenced by?
CC: Vincent van Gogh is an artist who has profoundly influenced me. His persistence in creating pure work, despite life’s challenges, and his courage in transforming his inner loneliness, longing, and vulnerability into color and brushstrokes have deeply moved me. In my loneliest and most helpless moments, his works provided immense solace and companionship, making me realize how art can genuinely connect with the soul.
He once stated, “My paintings are what I have paid for with my life,” a sentiment that resonates strongly with me. I am committed to dedicating my life to creation because, for me, art is not merely a choice but a necessity—a way for the soul to breathe fully. I stand in awe of the heights he achieved, and this admiration reinforces my resolve to pursue my chosen path.
Edgar Degas’s artistic experiments have also been a significant source of inspiration. At the dawn of photography, he wondered whether painting, like a camera, could capture the fleeting and authentic nature of human movement. This spirit of returning to the essence of art to explore new possibilities, despite the impact of emerging technologies, has had a profound influence on me. It encourages me to continually ponder: can paper quilling art embrace more dynamic and contemporary expressions beyond established forms?
PZ: How would you define yourself as an artist?
CC: I am an empathetic artist who can feel, absorb, and carry the pain of others, transforming that emotion into art. I am dedicated to my craft and find endless vitality in the creation of my work. For me, art serves as a bridge—a spiritual channel that connects different times and spaces. It expresses my truest self.
PZ: What are you working on now?
CC: I have just completed a paper quilling artwork inspired by Empress Wu Zetian, titled “Shine Together with the Sun and Moon.” This piece is currently exhibited at the international artists’ group show called “Figural & Figurative: From Rembrandt to the 21st Century” at the ARTIFACT PROJECT Gallery in New York City, starting in October. After the exhibition, I plan to continue refining the piece and share the final version with everyone.
A few years ago, I created a series of works featuring Greek goddesses that promoted feminism. This series inspired me to create a piece focusing on Wu Zetian’s image and story, highlighting her spirit in encouraging women to stand up for themselves. My motivation for this artwork is to restore historical truth and shed light on her contributions.
Currently, I am also planning a new artwork about war, using the theme of a tree hole. This piece depicts children in war—or more broadly, anyone trapped in difficult situations—peering from the safety of a tree hole at a world torn apart by conflict. The image aims to capture feelings of pervasive fear, powerlessness, and deep inner unease.
However, I want to express more than just despair. The tree hole serves as both a hiding place and a symbol of the timid corner within each of us that yearns for safety and security. We all face various “wars” throughout our lives, whether those are external conflicts or internal struggles. Through this artwork, I aim to encourage viewers to reflect on this question: When we see those affected by war still searching for glimmers of hope, why should those of us living in relative peace hesitate to take the first step toward change when faced with our own challenges?
I hope this work prompts people to reflect on their own inner “tree holes” and find the courage to emerge. It’s not just about war; it’s about how each of us confronts our challenges and strives to change ourselves and, ultimately, the world.
PZ: What is the main message of your work?
CC: While creating my latest paper quilling artwork inspired by Empress Wu Zetian, titled “Shine together with the sun and moon,” I formed a profound spiritual connection with her. This work is both a gift from Wu Zetian and a test from fate, allowing me to draw closer to her life and personally experience the struggles and burdens she faced—the lonely nights and the tough decisions she had to make. Although this process was emotionally demanding, I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to understand the circumstances and heart of a great woman caught in the turmoil of history. This conversation across time and space, while painful, is one of the greatest privileges of my life. This profound spiritual dialogue with Wu Zetian has taught me that true success lies not merely in overcoming obstacles but in maintaining the gentleness and strength to help others after facing those challenges. She illuminated my own difficult times, and now I hope to pass on that light to others in need.
Through her story, I want to convey the belief in women’s potential for growth as well as the elevation of humanity. Anyone who overcomes adversity has the potential to become a source of light for others. As long as we hold on to our original aspirations and persevere, we will find ourselves in a bright future, supporting one another as we move forward. I also aim to present the truth of history as faithfully as possible through my work. Many traditional Chinese crafts carry diverse meanings and are highly specific about imagery and color. Therefore, accurately conveying historical truth requires meticulous research.
Wu Zetian was China’s only female emperor. Within the patriarchal cultural tradition of ancient China, this work uses magnificent colors to express the enlightened social atmosphere and cultural prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Gold symbolizes the royal family, while the intense and vivid red represents Wu Zetian’s majesty and authority. The soaring carp symbolizes equal opportunity; there’s a saying in Chinese idioms: “Carp leaping over the dragon gate.” This refers to Wu Zetian’s reforms to the imperial examination system, which allowed more people to enter the officialdom, demonstrating her innovative thinking and her noble ideal of equality for all. The diverse colors of the carp also reflect the varied hues of the Hu people during the Tang Dynasty.
Additionally, the background features Wu Zetian’s original name, “Zhao,” which represents the sun and moon shining brightly in the sky, symbolizing her aspirations for the country. The reflection of the golden moon radiates directly into people’s hearts. In this project, I aim to create more three-dimensional paper quilling art and strive to convey the most authentic historical stories, the genuine mindset of the characters, and the characteristics of the Tang Dynasty through various traditional techniques and representative symbols. Consequently, I have also attempted to recreate the effects of ancient hair buns and crowns using paper. Like the conventional crafts of ancient China, the paper quilling techniques used in this work are intricate, sophisticated, and diverse, with each part intended to convey its own unique meaning.