Every so often, while Hue is wandering the halls of FIT, a student artwork catches Hue’s eye. Recently, Hue saw three works that revealed an artist’s macabre vision.
Behold “The Bird Nest,” by Phoenix Chan, Illustration BFA ’12. Is it a bird feeding her young at dawn, or bird about to feast on li’l blondie trapped in her nest?
“The Bird Nest,” Oil on gesso board, 16”x20”, by Phoenix Chan
Phoenix sees a third option, that the bird is surprised to encounter a five-inch-tall girl taking a nap in her nest. “Personally,” she says, “I am fascinated by ‘tiny people.’”
This next one looks sort of normal, until you look closer… a rabbit in her underwear? Babies in a bag? A head made of gears, covered in a mask? Hue says: What?
“The Subway,” oil and ink on watercolor paper, 11.5”x30”, by Phoenix Chan
Here’s the real story, courtesy of Ms. Chan: A lost little boy tries to get on the subway at Adult Ave. A friendly stranger stops him and tells him to put on a mask—because it’s uncouth to look people in the eye on the subway. The little tyke has to decide whether or not to accept it or not.
In “The Chess Board,” Phoenix depicts Heaven, Earth, and Hell on three separate chess boards, all connected by stairs. If you win the chess game on one level, you move up. If you lose, you move down.
“The Chess Board,” ink on craft paper, 24”x36”, by Phoenix Chan
For more of Phoenix’s mind-opening work, open up Phoenix Chan Collections [http://phoenixchancollections.blogspot.com/].
