Artist Profile - Peter Chan

By Colin Serjent

Some have commented that Peter Chan's art work is often Zen-like, similar in some ways to the work of Mark Rothko.
"They have said that they find my work calming and tranquil," said Peter.
He showed a lot of his work, which is mainly oil on canvas, but also sometimes threads embroidered onto a canvas, during the 2004 Liverpool Arts Biennial, under the series title 'Pollination', at seven venues throughout the city centre. They included the Tea Factory, Vivienne Westwood's in Cavern Walks and Waterstone’s Costa Café in Bold Street.
"I used paintings which had been impregnated with a specially chosen perfume and placed them where people congregate," he explained. "Some were placed in specific areas where couples might sit together, such as in a coffee shop - others were placed in more general areas."
Each painting, containing flower-like forms, was presented in order to attract a specific type of person, who like a honey bee will become a subconscious potential agent of pollination," he added. "The nectar is the painting itself."
Peter, who moved to Liverpool from Hong Kong when he was a young child, is influenced in his art work by visiting large open spaces, and particularly likes producing sky scapes.
"I am a prolific painter and like doing large-scale work because it gives me more freedom to express myself," he commented.
He graduated in Fine Art from Liverpool John Moores University in 2002, and has been involved in both solo and group exhibitions.
As well as the Liverpool Biennial, he has had one man shows at the Atkinson Art Gallery in Southport and the Egg Café in Liverpool.
Group shows he has been involved in include 'The Bracket' exhibition at the Arena Studios Art Gallery in Liverpool, and a summer show at the now closed View One Gallery.