INTERVIEW
Abstract patterns by An Chen
Illustrator An Chen is known for her beautifully fluid abstract compositions, exploring geometric shapes and blocks of colour with applied cosy textures. This year, An has been pushing that practice even further into the realm of pattern work through a series of imagined book covers inspired by three pioneering artists.
No stranger to the book cover format, this time An uses its unique blank canvas as a way to explore how her current practice can cross over into pattern-like compositions, transfiguring elements and concepts into abstract representations of artists she admires.
We spoke with An about this process, her inspiration behind this mini series of self-initiated work, and where she hopes to take it next!
"
To me creating abstract work is like drawing blindfolded. You can only rely on your instinct and your own perception of colour and rhythm.
– An Chen
What was the inspiration behind the series?
Earlier this year I found that my creative practice was becoming stale, and I needed a breakthrough. After talking with the team at Grand Matter, they suggested that I had untapped potential in pattern design. Coincidentally, I had recently come across Magdalena Abakanowicz’s work in Tate Modern. She has a series of designs using famous female figures as inspiration for abstract pattern tapestries. It was amazing to see how she interpreted and read people's traits and turned them into her own visuals. The ability to gather information and regenerate it into something else, in your own style, is the essence of creativity for me, so I decided to see if I could do the same with this illustration series.
What made you pick out these particular artists to represent in pattern form?
They are three of my favourite artists, especially Georgia O'Keeffe. I first read about her work when I was about 14 and couldn't forget the strong powerful rhythmic swirls within her paintings.
An Chen's Frida Kahlo inspiration moodboard
How have you found your style lending itself to pattern work?
My artwork is formed by shapes and forms, and I enjoy using shapes to create a certain movement and visual rhythm in my work. My goal for this series was to use my favourite angular shapes whilst also achieving an underlying continuous flow to the composition that brings life to the entire design. I started this series with the visual path of each cover in mind before proceeding to work with shapes and colour tests.
In An Chen's studio
What were the challenges?
A lot of people already think my work is abstract, but I really wanted to push the abstraction further than I ever had with this series. It’s very challenging. To me creating abstract work is like drawing blindfolded. You can only rely on your instinct and your own perception of colour and rhythm. The balance between colour and shape form. In this series, I took inspiration from the artist's stylistic elements and then incorporated them with my own style.
Exploring compositional flow, and texture layering
Can you tell us about the type, is this something you created especially for these?
Yes, I initially studied graphic design and still have a great fondness for the elegant forms found in typography. I try to make the type echo my illustration style. Using arches, angles and curves to assemble the characters.
An's Georgia O'Keeffe & Louise Bourgeois imagined book covers
And finally, what would be your dream pattern-based illustration commission?
I would love to create scarf patterns for a high end fashion brand!
About An Chen
An Chen combines colour blocked geometric shapes and clean lines with a nostalgic print-like texture. Her energetic and angular compositions lend themselves to a variety outputs, from packaging and large scale installations to editorial pieces and zines.
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