Today we’d like to introduce you to Ching Ching Cheng.
Hi Ching Ching, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States in 2002. I am an interdisciplinary artist and art educator based in Altadena, California. The years of training in dance and music in my early childhood made an impact on my performance video works and on creating sound design for my experimental videos. Two years of studying material engineering and science in my undergraduate studies in Taiwan contributed to my interest in exploring the connection between science and art. One year of fashion design courses at community college also influenced my costume creation for my video works. Almost ten years after obtaining my undergraduate degree in Illustration at ArtCenter College of Design, I went back to ArtCenter for a Master’s in Fine Arts degree. While in the Graduate Art program, I pursued higher criticality and deeper research study in Fine Art with the focus of experimental video art.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
After having my firstborn, I realized I had to adjust my practice to accommodate my son’s schedule and also try to maximum my time in making work. It was a journey trying to figuring out the new routine along with constant changing of my life living with two kids! A lot of problem-solving, but it’s ok! It ultimately became part of my work. Life is work, and work mimics life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an interdisciplinary artist and art educator. My experience, cultural background and family history broaden my perspective in the critical theory of art, what art can be, and what art can provide. I incorporated the complexity of contemporary social dynamics, including race, gender, and identity, into my work. And my works include paintings, sculptures, mixed media art, photography, video, sound, writing, and performance work.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Besides being an artist, I am also an art educator. I have over ten years of teaching experience working with students as young as five years old and students into adulthood, including adults with disabilities. In 2022, I hosted an art workshop with the Chinese American Museum and also taught art classes in 15 classes weekly at elementary school besides my weekly teaching art at Drawwing Cabinet in La Crescenta. In 2021, I taught a series of two weeks online art workshops with the topic of Silk Road with Loyola Marymount University StarTalk program. As an art educator, my role includes creating lesson plans, maintaining material lists, and budget planning. I have also taught drawing, design, painting, printmaking, silkscreen, fashion design, sculpture, and various project-based art workshops. I provide engaging and creative teaching methods, including creating specific course topics, student-led research and presentation, field trips to museums and galleries, reading and writing assignments, film screenings, and project exercise workshops. Expanding and exploring various concepts, also combining and introducing an individual’s voice, cultural background, and identities are important for contemporary arts education. I believe art education for children and adults is the main element to provide a healthy culture for individuals and communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: chingchingcheng.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chingchingcheng/
Image Credits
Time Times Time Photo credit: Carson Lynn All the rest of the photos are stills from my video works.
