
By William Jenkins, Content Editor for Legacy Arts magazine
An Interview with Artist Sean Chao
LA: What influenced you in your career path?
SC: Being an artist is a challenging career path, but I’m happiest when I’m creating art. My parents were very encouraging when I was young. Sculpting became natural for me to express myself after years of practice and education. I had different jobs after I graduated from school, but I continued making art and it eventually became my career.
LA: How does your culture and heritage influence your work?
SC: I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan. The Chinese culture is my family heritage. However, I was also influenced by Japanese and American pop culture growing up. Taipei is a densely populated city. Life was busy and very fast paced, even for a child. To recuperate and balance my sanity, I learned to pause and find joy and happiness in life, and then spent time to see the little details. Now I create art based on these kinds of experiences.
LA: What immediate reaction do you hear from people who view your art?
SC: People usually feel surprised about the scale and details. Many have seen photographs of my works but then are still surprised when they see the work in person.
LA: How would you like your art to influence others, perhaps students in particular but also the general public?
SC: The modern life is busy, confusing, and full of chaos. People forget how to enjoy the simple things in life. A moment of joy sneaks past us so quickly. We often ignore it because we are so distracted. In my work, I capture these little moments, and then translate them into a piece of diorama art. I hope it helps people to go through their hectic life and reminds us to live joyfully.
LA: What legacy do you want to leave for your family and community?
SC: There is a message in all my works, to live happily and enjoy the little things. I will keep making art and continue to influence people. Hopefully the positive energy is what I will leave for the world.
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