Dominique Chan

Visual artist Dominique Chan was born in France (Quimper, Brittany, 1950) to a Chinese father and a French mother. He therefore spent part of his childhood in Paris. After wandering through Europe for several years, he settled permanently in Amsterdam in 1975. After studying at the Rietveld Academy (1980–1985), he embarked on two study trips to China (1986 and 1987), where he immersed himself in Chinese calligraphy, among other things. This was followed by many more trips to all corners of the world: Asia, America, Australia—everywhere he absorbed impressions, learned about other cultures, and wrote about them, while painting, in his diary. In particular, the impressions he gained in China keep reappearing in his work. For example, he incorporates Chinese newspapers and stamps into his art.

Over the years, Dominique Chan’s work has evolved into a balanced composition of colors. In doing so, he employs every means at his disposal to exploit their distinctive qualities. Like the “Constructivists,” he makes use of color groups that emerge in each autonomous work. His work exudes a sense of freedom. This feeling is created by his use of color—vibrant and direct—and the seemingly chaotic way the paint is applied to the canvas. It is also striking that his work is often divided into distinct sections, each of which tells a different story. These sections and colors, in turn, form the backdrop for the figures that Chan renders quickly and effectively.

The cheerfulness in Dominique Chan’s work is appreciated worldwide. His work is regularly exhibited both domestically and internationally and is included in various major corporate collections.