“At Threadhold, We Transcend the brand and individual’s Vitality threshold. "
Chuan is independent artist whose works blend scientific observations of nature with romantic lyricism and poetic imagination. Specializing in oil painting (on canvas and wood)
Her works have been exhibited globally, with shows in London, Seoul and Taipei. She has also collaborated with leading brands including Swatch and Tencent Games. Her award-winning oil paintings masterfully fuse scientific rigor with artistic allure, a testament to her years of self-directed study and distinctive creative exploration.
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This month, we are very honoured to feature her in an exclusive interview below.
Artist Exclusive Interview with Thread Gallery: January, 2026
Reconstructing Nature: Science, Myth, and the Feminine Body.
Thread Gallery: Your work frequently brings together human and animal forms. What conceptual concerns drive this imagery?
Chuan: I use the co-presence of human and animal bodies to question fixed hierarchies between species. These images operate between reality and dream, suggesting a shared condition rather than opposition. They reflect my belief in the unity of life and point toward humanity’s ethical responsibility within broader ecological systems.
Thread Gallery: Nature appears not as background but as an active force in your paintings. How do you approach it?
Chuan: Nature is not a subject I observe from a distance. Through long-term engagement—especially my early work in scientific illustration—I learned to see plants and animals as systems shaped by time, environment, and interdependence. In my work, nature functions as a living structure in which humans are embedded rather than positioned above.
​​​​​​Thread Gallery: The female body is a recurring presence in your work. How should it be understood?
Chuan: The female body functions both as a metaphor for nature and as an index of my own presence. Sometimes it is figurative, sometimes abstract, but it always carries vulnerability, resilience, and transformation. It allows me to situate myself within the image rather than outside it.
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Thread Gallery: Your practice has roots in scientific biological illustration. How does that background inform your current visual language?
Chuan: Scientific illustration trained me in precision, structure, and disciplined observation. Although my work has moved away from strict documentation, that foundation remains. I now draw on surrealism and naturalism, integrating mythological and theological narratives to construct symbolic relationships rather than factual records.
​​​​Thread Gallery: Your path to becoming an artist was unconventional. How did it unfold?
Chuan: After graduating, I worked in a government-affiliated institution before leaving to co-run a small restaurant with my husband. It was during that period that I began teaching myself painting. A turning point came after my daughter was born in 2014, when drawing became a personal archive. In 2015, I encountered scientific biological illustration, which later led to commissions for National Geographic and, in 2017, to studying under Zeng Xiaolian. Each stage shaped the way I think about labor, time, and seeing.
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