This conversation opens the second interview of Chapter 2, "The Artist's Muse: What Inspires You."
For Yen Ting Chen, the muse resides not in the extraordinary but in the quiet corners of the everyday—the study where thoughts gather, the familiar rooms where time seems to pause. His inspiration emerges from the spaces we inhabit, from the vertical and horizontal lines that frame our daily existence. Chen’s muse is not a sudden revelation but a constant companion, found in the architecture of the ordinary, in the quiet stability of home.
In his "Interior" series, Chen translates these intimate spaces onto canvas, transforming the familiar into contemplative compositions. Works such as "Interior" and "Interior-2" employ doors and frames as windows to the soul, where the physical boundaries of rooms become projections of inner emotions. These paintings unfold at a deliberate, tranquil pace, inviting viewers into a shared sense of calm and stability.
Throughout this interview, Chen reflects on discovering inspiration in spaces that allow the mind to breathe, on the careful process of building color through monochrome underpainting and glazing, and on how moments of revision become pathways to new possibilities. He speaks of how his relationship with these quiet spaces has deepened over time, of how solitude becomes a gateway to creation, and of his hope to extend this sense of tranquility toward landscapes, exploring how light and atmosphere in outdoor scenes might evoke the same quiet stability found in interior spaces.
This text preserves Chen’s voice with minimal editing for clarity. May this record serve as a small passage into his world, inviting you to reflect on your own muse and the quiet spaces that inspire you. Now, let us quietly enter the story of Chen’s muse and creative practice.
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Q. Thank you for joining us today—it's wonderful to meet you. To start, what is the main source of inspiration for your current work? When did this particular muse first become meaningful to you, and can you describe that initial encounter?
A. When I think about my current work, my inspiration often comes from the quiet corners of my home — familiar spaces such as the study and other rooms I spend time in. Through observing their structures and arranging the vertical and horizontal outlines within these interiors, I aim to create a calm and balanced composition. I hope that, when viewed, the paintings unfold at a slow and tranquil rhythm, allowing the viewer to share in that quiet sense of stability.
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| Interior-3 |
Q. When you first discovered this source of inspiration, what emotions did you experience? How did it change your artistic direction or working methods afterward?
A. When I first realized this source of inspiration, I felt a sense of calm and comfort. I discovered that in my work, I am always searching for those quiet places—spaces that allow the mind to breathe and also serve as an outlet for the soul.
As for my working methods, I pay careful attention to and reflect on each stage of the process. In oil painting, I usually begin with a monochrome underpainting to gradually build up the colors. Later, I apply glazing, scumbling, or impasto layers, carefully considering whether each effect achieves what I intended. Throughout this process, I often revise multiple times, and these “mistakes” become valuable experiences, allowing me to explore new possibilities in color and composition.
Q. How does your muse typically appear to you—as visual images, sounds, spatial feelings, or particular emotions? Could you describe its specific characteristics or qualities in detail?
A. These sources of inspiration usually come from spaces that naturally draw me in. I feel that the qualities of these spaces give me a sense of calm and tranquility. Often, the emotions I experience are closely tied to the inherent character of what I see. When I observe these scenes and spaces, they also serve as a projection of my inner emotions.
Q. Could you walk us through one specific work that you feel most powerfully embodies your muse? What was the journey from initial inspiration to finished piece, and what challenges or discoveries emerged along the way?
A. The works I would like to highlight are Interior and Interior-2 , both of which are inspired by interior spaces within my home. The imagery of doors or frames, for me, serves as a window to the soul. Although these paintings depict interior spaces, they also function as projections of my inner emotions.
During the creation of these two pieces, I encountered some challenges. The original dimensions were slightly larger than the sizes seen now. Due to compositional needs, I made adjustments and cropped parts of the work. Even though I had initially considered the arrangement carefully, sometimes it was still necessary to modify the original dimensions to achieve the desired composition.
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| Interior-2 |
Q. Has your relationship with your muse evolved over time? Are there aspects that have deepened or new dimensions you've discovered that you'd like to share?
A. I’ve realized that the changes are mostly slight adjustments in composition or subject matter. The underlying inspiration I wish to convey remains unchanged—I still aim to depict quiet, tranquil spaces and landscapes.
Q. Do you have any intentional activities or routines for connecting with inspiration? Conversely, when inspiration doesn't come easily, how do you handle those periods?
A. I usually connect with inspiration by spending quiet time alone. This kind of peaceful solitude allows my mind to settle and reflect, giving me the space to observe and absorb ideas. When inspiration doesn’t come easily, I try not to force it and simply continue with my routine, trusting that the ideas will emerge naturally over time.
Q. Can you tell us about a moment when your muse led you somewhere unexpected or challenging? What did you discover about yourself or your practice through that experience?
A. Sometimes inspiration leads me to unexpected results that differ from what I initially imagined. Yet, I think this is a natural part of the creative process—one that involves constant dialogue and reflection with myself. Through these moments, I often discover new directions or subtle emotions that I hadn’t noticed before.
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| Interior |
Q. How does your audience's response to your work affect your relationship with your muse? Have viewers ever helped you see new aspects of your inspiration that you hadn't noticed before?
A. The audience’s response doesn’t directly change my relationship with my muse, but sometimes their interpretations allow me to see new layers within my work. Occasionally, viewers notice details or emotions that I wasn’t fully aware of while painting, and these moments make me reflect more deeply on my creative intentions.
Q. How do you balance staying true to your core inspiration while also allowing room for
growth and change? Have there been times when you've had to choose between following your muse and meeting external expectations?
A. I try to stay faithful to my core inspiration by focusing on what feels genuine to me. Growth, I believe, happens naturally within that process. While there may be external expectations at times, I’ve learned that staying true to my inner rhythm is most important. My work develops slowly, and that slowness itself allows space for quiet change and reflection.
Q. Thank you so much for sharing such thoughtful insights with us today. As we conclude our conversation, Looking ahead, in what direction do you think your muse will develop or expand? Are there new territories of inspiration you're eager to explore, and what draws you to them?
A. Looking ahead, I think my inspiration will still come from quiet and familiar spaces, but I also hope to extend this feeling toward landscapes. I’m interested in exploring how light and atmosphere in outdoor scenes can evoke the same sense of tranquility that I find in interior spaces.
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| Frames of Light |
Contact
Artist : Yen Ting Chen
Instagram : @yenting841206
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