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Made In China Podcast

Hangfeng Chen

In conversation with Hangfeng Chen

In this series, we sit down with special guests who are each connected in their own way to the themes and stories behind the Made In China exhibition. In the Made In China Podcast, get to know Hangfeng Chen, a multidisciplinary artist. In this interview, Hangfeng shares insights on the vision, influences and versatility of his craftmanship. 

Meet Hangfeng

Hangfeng Chen, born in post-Cultural Revolution Shanghai, grew up in a rapidly transforming China. Educated as a painter at Shanghai Fine Art College, he's also a self-taught graphic designer and filmmaker. Since 2017, Chen has lived between Shanghai and Amsterdam, working across papercut, drawing, collage, and animation, with reappropriation as a central method. His work has been exhibited globally, and his films have been screened at international festivals. A recent graduate from the Netherlands Film Academy’s master program, his research explores moving images and sound as collage, using found footage and his own materials to examine human desire and control in a globalized world.

As part of the Made In China exhibition, we asked Hangfeng a few questions.

HangfengChen

Personal memory and history

How do you give shape to the world?

By collaging, reappropriating, and juxtaposing archival materials with my own sources, I create a distinct interplay between personal memory and history. My work transcends space and time, forming intertwined connections from once unrelated elements. Through imaginative storytelling and interdisciplinary approaches, I explore the intersection of the imaginary and real, reflecting on global issues. My sources range from a Christmas-ornament-making village in China to Santa's 'real' hometown in Finland, and from traditional Chinese papercuts to global brand symbols, and colonial maps alongside depictions of 15th-century Chinese voyages and exotic species.

''Through imaginative storytelling and interdisciplinary approaches, I explore the intersection of the imaginary and real'
Hangfeng Chen
Trailer: Making Christmas door Hangfeng Chen

Expression and connection

What does Chinese craftsmanship mean to you personally, and in what ways has your cultural background shaped your view of art?

I believe craftsmanship is central to my practice, much like in traditional Chinese literati traditions. Calligraphy and ink painting, for instance, are key elements that define the refined aesthetics of classical Chinese art. Through these crafts, one engages in a deeper pursuit of self-cultivation, moral integrity, and balance, where art becomes an expression of one’s inner self and connection to the world around them.

''I challenge the conventional boundaries of East and West...''

How do you combine influences from both Chinese (art) tradition and other world cultures in your work?

By integrating these diverse influences, I seek to blur the boundaries between distinct cultural narratives, reflecting the fluid and interconnected nature of today's globalized world.

Exhibition
Artwork in the Made In China exhibition

The archival materials I use, whether rooted in Chinese traditions or drawn from other world cultures, are layered together to challenge the conventional binaries of East and West. As Craig Clunas points out, “East is no longer totally East, and West is not completely West.” This fusion allows me to create hybridized forms of expression that speak to the shared human experiences across cultural lines.

In my work, traditional Chinese aesthetics, such as calligraphy, papercutting, and ink painting, coexist with global symbols, contemporary iconography, and historical references. This dynamic blend not only explores cultural identity but also questions how history, memory, and modernity interact. By reappropriating these elements and placing them in dialogue with one another, I aim to create art that reflects the complexity of cross-cultural interactions and the evolving nature of cultural heritage in an interconnected world.

 

Visit the exhibition Made In China until August 31 2025 in Wereldmuseum Rotterdam.

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