Jun Chen

BUSH IDYLL

30 August — 17 September 2022

Born 1960, China
Lives and works in Brisbane

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Before the first pass of oil paint from Jun Chen’s palette knife hits the canvas, his daily ritual begins. The artist methodically transcribes calligraphic stanzas from ancient Chinese poetry—an act that focuses his mind on the nuances of mark-making. The fluidity of ink and movement on rice paper—drawn through the motion of the hand and eye working in unison, brings purpose to his painting practice.

In classical Chinese landscape painting, the relationship with words has been inextricably linked for over a millennium. The ethereal landscape tradition and its relationship to literature and music has a profound transformative effect on its audience. It is said that the earliest Tang dynasty artists turned to nature as the teacher but followed the springs of inspiration in their hearts.    

Jun Chen's mastery of the unforgiving medium of oil paint has been widely celebrated. Multiple Archibald and Wynne prize appearances attest to his position as one of this county’s most revered artists. The richness of his painting surface is a defining hallmark of his oeuvre.  The interwoven colours and lines create illusionary space, and the delicate minor moments in the landscape are a testament to the precision of his palette knife as it vigorously moves over the canvas.

It is the act of painting that most absorbs this artist— and line, tone and colour combinations are critical and at the heart of his vision.  To an extent, the genre—landscape, portraiture, or abstraction is subservient to his methodology. His painting has an enduring ability to draw from his subject without slavishly rendering them. In doing so, he allows the audience to intervene and create their own stories and narrative.

Ralph Hobbs
September, 2022

\ Exhibition featured works

Jun Chen

BUSH

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Blooming Flowers

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 160cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Blooming Flowers 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Blooms in Bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Blooms in bush 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 180 x 213cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Blue Sky with Magnolia

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Grey jacaranda trees

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 117 x 123cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Gum Tree Bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 123 x 130cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Magnolia with Mountain

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 85 x 80.5cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Path in the Bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 200cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Path in the Bush 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 200cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Path in the Bush 3

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 200cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Pink Bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 160cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Pink Bush 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 160.5 x 260cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Purple Trees in Bush 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 200cm

Jun Chen

RED TREES WITH POND

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Red Bush

2021 \ Oil on canvas \ 100 x 102cm

Jun Chen

Red Magnolia Trees

2022 \ Oil on canvas \ 160 x 200cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Red Mountain

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136.5 x 160cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Small Road

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Two Small Roads in Bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 123.5 x 138.5cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Walk Past the Jacaranda

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 160cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Water Mirror

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 136 x 160cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Water Mirror 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Waterfall

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

White Hill

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

Jun Chen

Yellow Magnolia

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 160 x 200cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

Yellow Magnolia Trees

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 192 x 302cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

blue sky 2

2022 \ Oil on canvas \ 136 x 180

SOLD

Jun Chen

jungle with pond

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

Jun Chen

purple bush

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

Jun Chen

two trees with pond

2022 \ Oil on canvas, framed \ 100 x 102cm

SOLD

\ Other exhibitions

David Fairbairn

THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LINES

24 October — 16 November 2024

Adam Nudelman

UNDER THE CANOPY OF A LOST PARADISE

23 October — 16 November 2024

Jun Chen

RED LAND

24 September — 19 October 2024

Contact Us

to find out more about BUSH IDYLL.

12 - 14 Meagher Street Chippendale, NSW 2008
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm Saturday, 11am - 4pm Closed Public Holidays (and Easter Saturday)