Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌

tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌, a solo exhibition by Jiayun Chen curated by Alan Torres in the domestic gallery space Orlando in Koreatown, Los Angeles, explores the relationship between language, culture, and technology through a focused examination of mistranslated Chinese character tattoos on Western bodies. It is a witty and experimental show posing critical questions about AI and language and celebrating the poetic nature of failure.

Jiayun Chen, originally from Wenzhou, China, and now a Los Angeles resident, has cultivated a multifaceted art practice that involves drawing, trophy-making, painting, sculpture, and installation. A recent MFA graduate from USC Roski School of Art and Design, Chen explores the nuances of language as a communication tool and the inevitable slippages that occur within it.

tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌 is structured around two central themes. The first involves a collection of tattoo images sourced from the internet, showcasing examples of mistranslation on skin. The second part utilizes Artificial Intelligence, specifically Stable Diffusion, to generate images of tattoos. This innovative use of AI not only mirrors the process of mistranslation but also critiques the technology’s lack of contextual understanding of language, revisiting interpretation and meaning.

By incorporating elements of concrete poetry and exploring the drifts of legibility in language, Chen’s work invites viewers to reconsider the complexities of cultural and linguistic translation. The exhibition poses critical questions about the role of technology in cultural representation and the poetic dimensions of communicative failure.

For more information, please visit Orlando or Jiayun Chen‘s website.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

Installation view of "Jiayun Chen: tat skin slip tongue/塔皮滑舌" (2024) at Orlando in Los Angeles, the United States of America.

 

 

Last Updated on July 26, 2024