Beni Shen.
Chen (Beni) Shen is a multimedia artist from Shanghai, China currently residing in Saskatoon. She completed her Bachelor in Fine Arts with Honors from the Univeristy of Saskatchewan. Her creative work is informed by contemplations on life, dreams, and emotions, exploring themes of identity, memory, and imagination. Drawing from her background as an ER nurse, her art offers a distinct perspective on the value of life and the delicate nature of human existence.
For Beni, creating sculptures and images is an instinctual act that translates her inner self into tangible forms, constructing her personalized world of dreams. Her arrangements are purposeful, inviting viewers to engage in a realm of speculation. By blending seemingly disparate elements, she creates a sense of disorientation. Her works also encompass the creation of figurative characters, psychological landscapes, and physical sculptures, employing various materials or manipulating images into sculptures. Her pieces blend figuration and abstraction, engaging in a quiet conversation with the surreal aspects of dreams. Her artistic inspiration is drawn from various sources, such as fragmented memories, social media, movie frames, collages, and digital works.
Beni’s art represents a profound and personal exploration of identity and imagination, encouraging viewers to understand uniquely and explore their inner subconscious. Her artwork invites reflection on individual experiences and emotions and attempts to cultivate a shared space of introspection and discovery.
