Felicia Chiao: Strange Pain

Felicia Chiao, the San Francisco artist and illustrator, kicks off her first New York solo show with the release of new print, a book signing and a reception at Harman Projects 210 Rivington Street Dec. 17, from 6-8 PM.

Taking the familiar and skewing it in surreal ways, Felicia Chiao illustrates painful human emotion by creating visual representations of feelings that can usually only be experienced. Whether it be a room with no windows or the dark bulbous personification of inner struggle, the "Strange Pain" referenced throughout the exhibition is evident.

Anxiety

"Strange Pain is about the small, undefinable pains you sometimes feel when nothing is specifically wrong,” Chiao said.

“It can come as that ache you feel from a sad song or that fleeting wave of despair that comes over you while waiting for water to boil. It can be the tightness in your chest before a social event or that vague sense of guilt you sometimes get, even though you’ve done nothing wrong. Strange pains are hard to put into words but this body of work does its best to explore them," she added.

Lamp Light

Chiao's autobiographical work focuses on vulnerable aspects of what it means to be human. She creates worlds in which our fear, anxiety and depression appear as physical as they feel. Given this new physical form, they are illustrated as amorphous blobs sitting on our laps pinning us down under the weight of depression, as smothering anxiety looming around the next corner, and as a pit in our stomach when we can not find the motivation to be productive as seen in Lamp Light, pictured above.

Fields of Clouds

Loneliness persists throughout this body of work, the artist uses singular lights shone on her figures during night scenes and shadows cast during day scenes to essentially isolate them from the rest of their world. Others are seen gazing through their window at an outside world that has become foreign to them, or struggling to find the will to eat breakfast, these solitary beings find themselves alone with their thoughts.

Afternoon Bath

Despite the ever present feelings of despair, there are also beautiful moments that shine through and offer an optimistic outlook. A tree rising out of a building toward the sun, lushly blooming flowers, and refrigerator magnets reminding the viewer that "Its ok".

Cozy

Chiao has exhibited nationally at Giant Robot, Los Angeles; Spoke Art Gallery, San Francisco; and Gallery Nucleus, Portland. She is also known as a respected commercial illustrator who's collaborated with clients such as the Magic Puzzle Company and A24 Films. Chiao's book, Sketchbook 6, is available on Amazon.