Ling Chen

My practice is guided by a single ongoing question: How does life come into being?
Rather than depicting the visible world, I explore the hidden structures that quietly shape it. These structures exist not only within cells, but also within plants, oceans, microbial systems, memory, consciousness, and the countless relationships that connect human beings with the natural world.
Working exclusively by hand with ink on paper, I build each drawing through thousands of meticulously repeated marks. This slow accumulation is not simply a technique; it is the essence of my practice. Drawing becomes a process of growth rather than representation, allowing time itself to become visible within the work.
My images are neither scientific illustrations nor traditional depictions of nature. They occupy a space between observation and imagination, abstraction and organic form. Viewers may discover cells, coral reefs, botanical structures, microscopic landscapes, galaxies, or entirely personal associations. I intentionally leave these interpretations open, inviting each viewer to construct their own experience.
My current practice unfolds through three interconnected series: Cells, which explores the fundamental architecture of life; Becoming, whi...

University Pantheon Sorbonne Paris 1
École beaux arts de Nantes