Sidi Chen is an international travelling queer artist. Originally from China, Chen is inspired by his extensive experience and research on the cultures around the globe. With his site-specific practice, body archive, Chen employs his body as the unit of measurement, the sensor of receptions, the storage of experiences, and the instrument of creativity to document the site- specific identities, especially in the alternative environment and concepts to probe the complexity of humanities. While working with a wide variety of mediums, Chen often determines the outcomes of his work through the research and investigation processes. His transdisciplinary practice includes visual arts (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, installation, performance, embroidery), media arts (video and audio art), literature arts (poetry, prose, and interviews), and an organic convergence of all. Chen came to Canada in 2014 and have participated in artist-in-residency programs, exhibitions, and performances across the country, such as the Naked State Residency (2017, Toronto), The Canadian Wilderness Artist Residency (2018, Yukon Territory), Ayatana Research Residency: Submerge (2019, Ottawa); the Fraser Valley Biennale (2019, Abbotsford); in collaboration with performance collective, No Object (2019, Toronto).
Graduating from the University of the Fraser Valley with distinction in 2018, Chen is currently residing in Vancouver as a practicing artist and an independent art administrator. With his community-oriented practice, he has participating in the Arts BC 40th Anniversary Conference as the Program Advisor and Facilitator (2019, Kelowna), Panelist for the Diversity in Arts and Culture Panel Discussion co-hosted by UFV Alumni Association, UFV South Asian Studies Institute, The Reach Gallery Museum, and BC Alliance for the Arts and Culture (2019, Abbotsford), Working Group Member for the Vancouver Chinatown Transformation Team Legacy Stewardship Group (2019, Vancouver), and juries for various residencies, exhibitions, and public art projects. www.sidichen.com