Sichen Grace Chen, or “SG” (she/they), is a painter and illustrator whose work explores the relationship between seemingly contrasting, ideas and identities.
Born in Chengdu, China, and having moved between cities in British Columbia throughout their life, SG has developed a deep appreciation for the shifting landscapes that shape our sense of belonging. Their art reflects this fluidity, exploring the traces left behind in the wake of rapid urbanization, and imagining futures where nature asserts itself in unexpected ways.
Their piece, In Time, discusses the vitality and resilience of nature in the face of rapid urbanization and industrialization in BC’s Lower Mainland.
From the artist
Taking inspiration from the terrestrial development of the Great Northern Way in Vancouver, 'In Time' reimagines the possible remnants, fossils, and spirits of the aquatic life that once populated that area.
I illustrate translucent forms of kelp and roots, along with other organic forms to leave it to the imagination of my audiences and coalesce them with the fluidity of heat, which all "grow" from a cold, blue, and industrial layer, speculating a possible future in which nature prevails over the Capitalocene.
Make it personal
In a rapidly changing urban landscape, what signs of resilience do you notice in nature, and how might they shape the future of these spaces?
rerooting, rerouting is sword fern collective’s online publication on climate emotions. Submit a piece
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Dandelions are bursting forth now. I've always thought of them as bright and cheerful … despite being garden weeds. Nordic countries let them grow. I like that idea too. English style gardens and green lawns will disappear and native grasses and wildflowers will bloom.