Steffie Chau | AAARMAGAZINE

Whispers of Everyday Life: Inside Steffie Chau's Artistic Journey

Interview By Naus Art Collective

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist?

I was born and raised in Hong Kong moved to New York to study and pursue my career as an artist. I also studied in Paris and during my time there, I explored objects as a way to create art.

2. What themes or messages do you aim to convey through your art?

My curiosity stems from human relationships. There are many facets of human being that I question recently it has been about the idea of home and love. Absence and presence, an ongoing dialogue between my inner world and the outer world, each influencing the other in a delicate, symbiotic dance.

3. How do you approach a new artwork, from concept to completion?

Is art ever complete? The more I engage with my creations the more I feel like I can develop it and it feels like a never-ending cycle of evolution. My concepts often stem from personal experiences and the spaces that I inhabit. It's an organic journey from a spark of inspiration to a tangible, evocative form.

4. What inspires your artwork, and how does your environment influence your creative process?

Inspiration finds me in the quiet moments of everyday life. Outside of work, I spend my time reading, listening to music, sitting in the park and people watching. My work is an intimate reflection of the profound connections I see in life. The environment I immerse myself in plays a crucial role, providing an oasis for my thoughts and emotions to coalesce into art.

5. What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

Currently, I am trying to obtain my work visa. The process has been very stress inducing and I’ve been waiting for over 4 months. However, this adversity has fuelled me to work on a personal project, L’appartement 49c, that revolves around the idea of waiting—specifically, for my visa. Transforming stress into creativity and personal struggle into communal reflection, the show will be held in my apartment, consisting of paintings, prints I collaborated with another artist on, and an interactive performance piece.

6. Can you describe your daily routine as an artist?

What practices or habits are essential to your creative process?I usually try to keep a window everyday to work on my creative practice. Whether it be researching, reading, or looking to friends for critiques on each others work. I like to dedicate time to the tactile process of creation—painting, assembling found objects, and experimenting with new ideas. In addition, going on walks in the park or running with my friends helps me to clear my mind. I found a lot of inspiration of how I should nurture my creativity from the book ‘The Creative Act’ by Rick Rubin.

7. What upcoming artworks, projects, or exhibitions are you currently working on?

Currently engrossed in preparing for "L’appartement 49c," an exhibition that will transform a living space into an art show. This project will feature oil paintings, works on paper, and an immersive installation that invites viewers into the intimate experience of waiting—reflecting the bureaucratic challenges faced as an Asian artist in the United States. This exhibition is more than a showcase; it’s an invitation to engage with the themes of waiting.

Chief Editor Paris Koh