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Chen Xiao Ping Painting Micronesia with Chinese sensibility
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Posted on Aug 02 1999
Along the hallway of the CNMI Museum of History and Culture hang a monochromatic piece in oil and pastel that riveted most of the visitors’ attention. The painting features a canoe and a wide-eyed girl whose soulful expression seems to be the riveting element of the entire piece. That painting, which incidentally was one of the most expensive pieces at the museum, might be Chen Xiao Ping’s own “Monalisa.”
“She’s Yapese. I like her eyes. They are full of emotions. I met her a long time ago,” Chen said, referring to the subject of her masterpiece.
Chen sold it last Saturday, the last day of her one-month exhibit at the Garapan museum. The $2,000 painting entitled “Canoe and Girl” was one of the 30 pieces on exhibit.
Most of Chen’s artworks, executed in oil and pastel and watercolor, depict the lifestyles and cultures of Micronesia.
“I’m Chinese and I can see the islands from a different point of view. Island culture is unique, and I want to express my feeling about it through my art,” Chen said.
Chen began a career in art after finishing a course in traditional Chinese landscape painting at Fujian Provincial Youth Painter and Calligrapher Institute from 1987 to 1992. She came to Saipan immediately after completing the art course.
“During my first year here, I just looked around and studied island art. I was very excited when I sold my first painting,” Chen recalled.
She has become one of the major participants in local art festivals and her works have since been featured in local post cards, calendars, magazines and tourism brochures. Some of her paintings are on display at the First Hawaiian Bank, the CNMI Legislature building, and the Marianas Visitors Authority.
She now manages her own studio/art gallery called Phoenix Art, Inc. in Susupe.
Although she has developed a passion for islandscape, Chen said she hasn’t forgotten her origin, her own country’s arts and culture.
“When I get the chance, I would like to put up an exhibit of Chinese arts and paintings. I want to introduce Chinese art to Saipan,” Chen said.
She looks forward to visiting other countries as well.
“I want to see different kinds of paintings. I want to see the world,” she said. (MCM)
