Interview by Jimon

1-Where do you currently reside and work?  I am currently residing in Toronto, Canada.

2-How would you describe Peter Chan?A very hard worker with an open mind to learn, extremely passionate at the few things he cares about.

3-How long have you been making art and what lead you to start?Almost my whole life, started by pausing a frame on my TV and copying what I see on the screen.

4-Did you study art or is it inherent?  I studied art and received my Bachelor of Applied Arts at Sheridan College in 2008. At the same time its inherent since painting has always been something I’ve enjoyed from a very young age. I think studying art expanded my vision to discover the history and to understand better how to navigate, experiment and develop my approach to ‘seeing’.

5-Did you ever doubt that you were an artist?  No, it was never a doubt because I wasn’t good academically at any other subject. Being an artist was the natural choice. I was even drawing in my math classes and I couldn’t stop trying to translate things visually with pencil and paper.

6-When does a work of art become important in your opinion? Do you need external confirmation, or is it something explicitly personal?  I must start by saying that I think art is very subjective, this is really great because there can be so many niches. Depending on how and what people are interested in, there may be something for anyone. It is actually like how everyone would have different interest in the type of food they enjoy, this allows for a diversity of interest and niches.  I believe if a work of art allows for a personal connection it can start to become ‘important’. If it speaks to one or larger audience, and perhaps evoking a certain emotional response.  A work of art visually can express things that words can’t describe. It can certainly be something very personal, it has always been for me and the reason I get excited and find joy about making my work.

7-Do you think that overall, some kind of infatuation is essential to making good art?I think so. I definitely have an obsessive infatuation with image making. I use the word ‘passion’ a lot when describing good art or people who notice good art. I think passion and drive is important in making anything ‘good’, let alone art.

8-Your work seems very personal, do you use live models or photos?My work definitely has a personal angle to it. It is something I’m passionate about and I can’t ever escape that. I used to actually only draw and paint from life. I spent 5-7 years drawing from life to learn to see things three dimensionally. Now I work mostly in studio and I work from both life and photo references. The figures in my work are often friends and people I personally know.

9-Do you remember the first piece of art that captured your imagination?In high school, first one I recall is possibly ‘The Persistence of Memory’ by Salvador Dali.

10-You have unlimited money to buy one piece of art what would it be?Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez.

11-What’s the best advice you’ve gotten about being an artist?To make as much art, to learn about who I am and to understand where you are headed. To ask questions for yourself, to have a never ending desire to learn and grow, to always be curious and find your inner child.

12-What influences you as an artist?The history of art; past and present and life through my everyday lens.

13-How do you define success?To be able to work without any worries or concerns in other areas of life.

14-If you could have dinner with 3 artists living/dead who would be at your table?

Living:
Kerry James Marshall
Vija Clemens
Ai Weiwei

Dead:

Diego Velazquez
René Magritte
Martin Wong

15-Three things you can’t live without in your studio?Palette Knife, Oil Paints, Mediums.

16-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?The MET Museum.

17-How would someone find you on social media?Instagram @peterchanart

18-Please name the first thing that comes to your mind while reading the following:

Art= Painting

Food= Sushi

Sports= Basketball

Politics= Yikes

Poor= Pennies

Rich= Gold

Luxury= Brand Names

Sex= Love

Picasso= Still Life with Pitcher and Apples

God= Christ

Religion= Devotion