THINK TANK | Skyler Chen

01Apr08

When people see a Skyler Chen for the first time, the reaction is either hot or cold. There’s no in between. So when someone tells you they like his work, they mean it. Chen is about to explode, so if you haven’t had the chance to see (or buy) one of his pieces, the Molecule suggests you hurry up. Doma in Manhattan’s West Village is currently exhibiting work from his “The Republic of Norman” series through mid-April. Then, it’s on to SoHo.

Chen’s work may be intimidating but you’ll find he’s quite down to earth. If you’re not finding him working side jobs waiting tables, you’re probably watching him work in his Queens art space alongside carpenters and fashion designers, to name a few. We caught up with him to see how he feels about the current New York art scene, and if there is any hope for us amidst the bourgeois bullshit of gentrification.

UM: You have your exhibition at Doma café and gallery through April 13th. How did you land the gig?

SC: I always liked the place. One day I dropped by with my portfolio. Someone saw my work. A month later the curator got back to me.

It’s my first ever exhibit in the city. That night was great. It was an amazing feeling being there, showing my work to the public. There were a lot of young professionals there, people I know. Fashion designers, artists, people in finance. I remember when I put it up. The second day I went in. Nobody knew me. I overheard someone say they liked the work. That really meant something to me. It was like a validation. It was the greatest feeling.

UM: Have there been any interested parties since that night?

SC: I’ve gotten many emails from people who are interested. Two pieces have been sold. Delicate and Beyond Reason. I don’t know anything about the buyers.

UM: And you have an exhibit at another gallery coming in August.

SC: Yes. It’s going to be a stronger statement about my work. Video installations and sculptures. It’s very important as a second step. All of the work is mine, a solo show.

UM: How would you describe the New York art scene?

SC: I was at the Chelsea Hotel recently and they happened to have this fair. I spoke to these artists who were living there. The hotel is pushing them out.

There are artists in Brooklyn and Queens. Everyone is still trying to do what they’ve always done. But New York’s become so commercialized and it’s now much harder for artists to survive. New York was always a place for art, but now it’s going away. It’s kind of sad. New York won’t be New York once the artists leave.

And so the Chelsea Hotel is trying to go condo, to get more money. They are forcing out artists who have been living there since the 60s. It was an interesting conversation.

UM: Do you think the art scene will come back around?

SC: I believe so. Art has to come back at some point. Galleries are moving to the Lower East Side now. Chelsea is filling up. Art is very important to our history, to human existence. It will live on.

UM: Will the Republic of Norman live on?

SC: I don’t think I can say now, but I definitely think it will become something different. It will go to the next level. I have something in mind, but I don’t want to reveal it before I’m sure.

UM: That’s probably smart. You discovered an art space in Queens.

SC: It’s an amazing group of young artists. 20 year olds to 60 year olds. They get together and they, you know, have a community. They have a gallery where they present everyone’s work each month. There’s a good spirit there. I think that type of community doesn’t exist in New York as much as it once did. Not like in Andy Warhol’s time.

These artists aren’t only painting. Some do furniture, video installations, fashion design. The first Friday of each month they have the open house. They present their work. You get to know them better through their work. You should come.

UM: I think I just might. How are you inspired?

SC: I go to galleries, museums. New York has the greatest information. This new art mixes with old art. Walking through the streets, watching people brushing their faces. This is how I find my inspiration. In the subway. This is how you remember. These experiences often reflect in my paintings — people’s faces.

Right now my favorite artist is Henry Darger. (It changes once in a while.) He’s from Chicago. He’s one of the artists we call an “outsider” artist. That means they never presented their work while they were alive. People find their work after they pass away. He was very much a lonely person, doing his work alone in his apartment. He died in 1973. They found…he wrote this novel. It’s supposedly the longest novel in America. Along with the novel he did a painting with the story. It was this massive, massive work. He’s influenced a lot of artists today, including myself.

UM: And you really can see his influence in your work. So, what’s next? Where do you see yourself in, say, five years?

SC: Hopefully I’ll still be in New York in five years. It’s important to fill out my resume, to be in different shows, for people to know me.

UM: You see New York as a place to build your resume?

SC: Yes. I see myself networking here.

[photo of Skyler Chen: Christopher de la Torre]

UM: And then what?

SC: I’d like to present my work all over the world. As an artist it’s very important to create a new message — even to create a feeling sometimes is good enough. To me, the purpose for being an artist is to create new ideas.

Ultimately, I think that’s what we all want to do.

For more about Skyler Chen, go to his site.
See pics from the March 18 reception at Doma.
UM1.1 | The Republic of Norman

Catch a new THINKTANK interview every other Tuesday.
[All artwork courtesy Skyler Chen]

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Tags: art, art space, artist, brooklyn, chelsea hotel, darger, doma, exhibit, gallery, henry, interview, New York, painter, republic of norman, sculpture, skyler chen, soho, think tank, Urban Molecule