3. Study of Chiken
2025 Oil on Canvas
Rooster in Striped Shirt
7.8' × 11.8'
This project explores the ubiquitous presence of chickens in our lives and their striking resemblance to human experiences. My interest in chickens began with personal observations in two contrasting environments: the countryside where my grandparents live and the bustling urban markets surrounding my family’s home in Jinan.
Escaped
31.4' × 39.3'
Chickens often appear confined within cages in China—whether in the vast enclosures of city zoos or the modest backyard hen coops. For domesticated chickens, life seems predetermined and meticulously planned. Their existence is dictated by external forces, leaving them with little, if any, autonomy over their fate. The only choice they might have, or perhaps not, is their origin—whether they come from the countryside or the city.
Chicken in swaddling clothes
11.8’ × 15.7’
Urban chickens, in a sense, are the privileged ones. They possess desirable appearances, are tagged, and are safeguarded within the confines of the city zoo. They enjoy quality meals and well-maintained shelters but remain passive participants, merely waiting for an inevitable end. In contrast, village chickens lead a more dynamic yet equally predetermined life. They roam freely, grow in open spaces, and are eventually placed in cages. Their fate shifts when they are selected and categorized—distributed to various regions, families, slaughterhouses, and markets based on their appearance and perceived quality. Ironically, despite their humble upbringing, village chickens often attract more buyers, while their urban counterparts are frequently overlooked.
Untitled
15.7’ × 11.8’
Through this work, I used direct observation in painting to examine the intersections between human and non-human agency, reflecting on themes of freedom, classification, and societal value systems that shape the lives of both chickens and people alike.
Untitled
7.8' × 11.8'
Study of Chiken 2025 ->