Chen Yingjie (Hua Tunan): From Ink and Graffiti to Surrendering Control
Hua Tunan, born Chen Yingjie in Guangdong, China, in 1991, is an artist engaged in painting, muralism, performance, and installation. His solo exhibition, Intuitive Wanderings, will take place at Long Museum West Bund in Shanghai from 12 May to 14 July 2024, showcasing pieces inspired by Yunnan and Tibet. His artistic journey began with encouragement from his father and a primary school teacher, eventually leading him to graffiti. A significant experience in Foshan, where he discovered mold on a wall, sparked his interest in spray painting. In 2021, he completed Natural Gravity 41 in Shanghai. In September 2024, he will create a 30-metre live mural at Taikoo Li Qiantan. His inaugural museum studio project, 够姜 [gau3goeng1], is scheduled for June to September 2025 at He Art Museum, culminating in Sound-Painting Resonance. He aspires to paint on Mount Everest.
Key facts
- Chen Yingjie was born in Guangdong, China, in 1991 and is internationally known as Hua Tunan.
- His 2024 solo exhibition Intuitive Wanderings was held at Long Museum West Bund, Shanghai, from 12 May to 14 July 2024.
- Around 2017 he began returning to his birth name for exhibitions and artworks, distinguishing the Hua Tunan period from his later practice.
- In 2021 he created Natural Gravity 41 / GRAVITY XLI on Nanchang Road, Shanghai, in relation to an existing sycamore tree.
- In September 2024 he made a 30-metre live painting over the staircase at Taikoo Li Qiantan, Shanghai, working for more than four hours.
- In 2025 he presented 够姜 [gau3goeng1]: Chen Yingjie Studio Project at He Art Museum (HEM) in Shunde, Foshan, running almost three months from June to September.
- The HEM project culminated in Sound-Painting Resonance, an improvised performance using a specially tensioned canvas and low-frequency sound.
- Chen has stated: “Accept everything uncontrollable, because that is the most interesting and challenging part of creation” (Hypebeast, 2022).
Entities
Artists
- Chen Yingjie
- Hua Tunan
Institutions
- Long Museum West Bund
- Danysz Gallery
- He Art Museum
- Taikoo Li Qiantan
- Hypebeast
- The Paper
- GraffitiStreet
- Tiger Beer
Locations
- Guangdong
- China
- Shanghai
- Yunnan
- Tibet
- Singapore
- Foshan
- Shunde
- Nanchang Road
- Shangri-La
- Kawagarbo
- Mount Everest
- Paris
- France