CYRIL W. CHEN

                     ︎     ︎     ︎     ︎    ︎   ︎   ︎  ︎

         CV/BIO ︎Contact




                                                           
                                                    INTRO

Cyril Chen (they/them) is an interdisciplinary artist-researcher and educator based in the Treaty 3 (Hamilton ON) and Treaty 4 (Regina SK) Territories of so-called Canada. Their experimental animation praxis has been supported by CARFAC Saskatchewan, Canada Council's Emerging Artist Explore and Create program, and the University of Saskatchewan's Capacitor program. They are an MA Candidate in Communication Studies and New Media at McMaster University, a recent graduate of Sheridan College's honours bachelor of animation program, and previously studied expanded media and experimental animation at NSCAD University.



CV/BIO

As an interdisciplinary artist and animator, I work with experimental documentary, narrative forms, installation, interactivity, and design. Recent experimental projects which I’ve worked on include Transfusion (BQFF 2023, SIFA 2023), Home of Diaspora (CBC 2022), Raw (CBC 2020, Lunenburg Doc Fest 2020), and Mom’s Garden (AFH 2021, WNDX 2022, AVAF 2022).

I teach workshops in experimental animation, mixed media animation, digital art archiving, toonboom harmony techniques, and 2D + 3D practices. My work has been supported by the University of Saskatchewan through Canada Council’s Digital Art Now program, CARFAC Saskatchewan, and UKAI Projects. My art and research praxis concerns transgender mental health data, auto-biography, interactivity, grief + joy narratives, critical play, comic books, and experimental animation. I’m currently working on my Master’s thesis, Transing the Narrative: Positing/Digesting Grief into Dialogic+Equitable Frameworks, at Pulse Lab McMaster.




        SKILLS/EXPERIENCE  condensed

Previous clients and workplaces: CBC Creator Network, Hi-Vis film, Adrian Dean Animation, Neutral Ground Artist-Run Centre, Saskatchewan Filmpool, Government of Saskatchewan communications.

Software: Toonboom Storyboard Pro, TVPaint, Photoshop (Adobe Creative Suite), Toonboom Harmony, DragonFrame
Learning: Maya, metal & woodworking, Blender, Cinema4D, Unreal Engine.
Research interests: new media storytelling ethics & techniques, digital art archives, transgender histories

Contact the artist through this link.
Twitter: @cyberspacevoid.        
Instagram: @cyberspacevoid.
Portfolio and Archive: https://cyberspacevoid.xyz



EDUCATION
_Masters of Arts in Communication Studies and New Media @ McMaster University // (2023-2024).
_Honours Bachelor of Animation @ Sheridan College
// (Oakville, ON).
_Expanded Media @ NSCAD University // (Halifax, NS).  
   
Professional Experience
_Network Convener: Communications & Projects // STOPS to Violence Saskatchewan / remote, Canada / August 2023 - Oct 2023
_Workshop instructor, Panelist
// Mackenzie Art Gallery, Dunlop Art Gallery, Halifax Independent Animation Festival // remote, Canada // started Nov 28, 2020

_Freelance animation artist // clients: CBC Creator Network, Hi-Vis film, Adrian Dean Animation, Neutral Ground Artist-Run Centre // Remote, Canada // started Nov 15, 2019

_Interim Communications & Member Services Coordinator // Saskatchewan Filmpool // Regina, SK // 2020
_Gallery & Archive Assistant // Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre // Regina, SK // 2020 & 2021
_Junior Communications Consultant // Government of Saskatchewan, Ministry of Government Relations // Regina, SK // summer internships 2017 & 2019

short film, short doc, feature-length, TV:
Transfusion // short animated film // BQFF, SIFA, Homegrown, UWpg, 2023-2024
- Home of Diaspora  // Concept & Storyboards, co-animator // CBC Creators Network, SK // 2021 - 2022
Queens of the Qing Dynasty
// Original 2D Animation // live-action Canadian feature Dir. by Ashley McKenzie // Nova Scotia // 2021-2022 [72nd Berlinale, TIFF 2022, Atlantic Independent Film Festival 2022, New York Film Festival 2022]
- Bridget // student third-year group film // Sheridan College, ON // 2021-2022 [Ottawa International Animation Festival 2022, Festival Stop Motion Montréal 2022, Irish Film Festival London 2022]
- 拜山 ( baai3 saan1)   // super 8 film, independent // 2021 [One Take Super 8, REGINA 2022]
Why Am I? // Background layout & paint artist // Children’s mini TV series on CityTV // Regina, SK // 2021
- RAW // Animator & Co-Director // CBC Creators Network, SK // 2019 - 2020 [INSPIRE (SASK 2022), CBC, Lunenberg Doc Festival 2020]
- Mom’s Garden 妈妈的菜园 // student independent multimedia short // University of Regina & NSCAD University, SK // 2019 [Addis Video Art Festival (Ethiopia, 2022), WNDX Festival of Moving Image 2022, Student World Impact Film Festival 2022, Halifax Independent Animation Festival 2021, University of Regina 2019]
- Hood Habits // student group film for Charles Taylor Theatre // NSCAD University, NS // 2019 [Global News, Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival 2019]

residencies
// Capacitor // University of Saskatchewan Art Galleries and Collections / Funded through the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Now Program / 6-month remote residency / August 2022 - January 2023
// Foundational mentorship CARFAC Saskatchewan / mentor Frans Lotz, metal & wood sculpting / Regina, SK // September 2022 - June 2023
// Digital Prototyper Residency @ MIGRATION // UKAI Projects // https://whoisasey.github.io/musicpicnic// // https://www.instagram.com/p/CCtPTG0AIc_/ https://www.ukai.ca/eventsandworkshops/migration - 2020

Funding
// Concept to Realization - Explore and Create Program | Canada Council for the Arts | New/Early Career Media Artist grant | 2023-2024

screenings

// Bradford Queer Film Festival | Transfusion screening, Bradford, UK | November 2023 | Screening with select animator Q&A | https://issuu.com/castlesinthesky/docs/bqff_2023_programme 
// Microbeaf experimental animation festival | May 18, 2023 | screening and interview for animated short | https://thebeaf.org/ |
// 72nd Berlinale | Animator for Queens of the Qing Dynasty, directed by Ashley Mckenzie | Feb 10-20, 2022 | https://www.berlinale.de/en/news-topics/news/detail_122377.html | https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6bKUwLaxw/
// One Take Super 8 | 拜山 ( baai3 saan1) | Regina Public Library Film Theatre | Regina, SK / Oct. 16, 2021 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvucgixW0lI
// Animation Festival of Halifax | Select artist for Vegan Delights | Halifax, NS / May 8, 2021
Films: RAW (CBC, 2020) and Mom's Garden - 妈妈的菜园 (independent, 2019)
https://afx.eventive.org/schedule/6088cb601ccf790075af339f - https://afx.eventive.org/films/60721c63683afa00d36cddaf
// Lunenburg Doc Festival - CBC Shorts: In Search of Ourselves - RAW - Animation Director - http://lunenburgdocfest.com/film/standing-up-short-docs-by-indigenous-filmmakers/?fbclid=IwAR3KFke3kc14wC8vZCNn4DpCXE0J02SWhBya-nIpM_nEOKKLVxWwQXrsNmE - https://watch.eventive.org/lunenburgdocfest/play/5f5e8ac8f2e588005383eb1c/5f56982eb6231b00299f5a2f?fbclid=IwAR3Ih3N0KRBw0qniMl6HlE49jOhqvLzP5fuPYkt9CnLrT9DF1mrQTDf0UBU - Lunenburg NS - September 24-30, 2020
// Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival - Hood Habits Animated, special premiere - Co-Director and Animator - https://nsadvocate.org/2019/04/21/news-release-its-happening-the-9th-annual-emerging-lens-cultural-film-festival-april-24-25-26-27-and-the-28th-in-truro-and-new-glasgow/ -  https://globalnews.ca/video/5180342/emerging-lens-cultural-film-festival-3 - https://www.theemerginglens.com/ - Halifax NS - April 24-28, 2019

panels
// World Balloon Fair | Toronto Comic Arts Festival | May 10, 2024
// Animation Festival of Halifax | Select artist for Big Picture Panel: Recipes for Community in a time of Disaster | Halifax, NS / May 8, 2021
Films: RAW (CBC, 2020) -
https://afx.eventive.org/schedule/6088cb601ccf790075af339e
// Digging Through SOIL - online gathering & artist discussion on the end of flash media- Neutral Ground Artist-Run Centre & Mackenzie Art Gallery - Gone in a Flash Series - https://neutralground.sk.ca/?page=eventdetail&year=2020&id=2020121120225112 - https://www.facebook.com/events/1388545388210568/ - Regina, SK / Dec 19, 2020
// Gone in a Flash Livestream Series - Panel Discussion with Dragan Espenscheid, Jonas Richner and Clara Chen - Mackenzie Art Gallery & Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre - https://mackenzie.art/event/gone-in-a-flash-panel-discussion/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVYwhtJyx9Y - Regina SK / Nov 28, 2020

teaching experience
// Teaching Assitant - Communications Theory and Methods - McMaster University - fall 2023
// Digital 2D animation -
remote instruction and q&a session - Saskatcheawn Filmpool - Youth Filmpool Artists in Residence -YFAIR - August 18, 2023 
//ANIMATION: From Paper to Digital
- inperson 2-part workshop - Saskatchewan Filmpool - June 10-11, 2023
// Wear your art: Visual Storytelling Bandanas - inperson and hybrid workshop - Dunlop Art Gallery - June 6, 2023
// 2D animation with Blender - online workshop via Zoom - Dunlop Art Gallery - https://www.instagram.com/p/CaScRHXODCF/ - https://www.facebook.com/events/393236002564884/ - February 2022
// Provincial ArtCade Program
- digital workshop artist / visiting artist - Mackenzie Art Gallery - February 2020 - 2021
// Experimental Animation workshop: Animating with Mixed Media - Mackenzie Art Gallery - March 21 & 29, 2021
// Gone in a Flash Livestream Series - Saving Your Flash Art from the Grave - Mackenzie Art Gallery & Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre - Flash Archiving Workshop using Conifer -
https://mackenzie.art/event/gone-in-a-flash-workshop-saving-your-flash-art-from-the-grave/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ3o6iGLcrs&t=1s - https://mackenzie.art/gone-in-a-flash/ - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EhGXpZUi7RhRFqSXP354X2UG1enuEBIY7RobnZdB37c/edit -Regina SK / Dec 10, 2020
// Teaching Assistant - Kumon Math & Reading Centre - Regina SK / 2014 - 2016
// Volunteer English Tutor - WF Ready Elementary School - Regina SK / 2011 - 2012

PUBLICATIONS
// Burning Magazine - illustration - Winter 2021 Issue - "SOCIAL PHOBIA"
- https://www.burningmagazine.com/issue-no-2/ - Halifax NS - 2021
// On International Transgender Day of Visibility, artist Cyril Chen explores Happiness - CBC Nova Scotia | First Person - comic and written piece - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/happy-place-cyril-chen-1.5971050?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash%20hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/CNGISrYH7x8/ - Halifax, Nova Scotia / March 31, 2021
// RIP Adobe Flash: Five Takeaways About the Plug-In's Legacy in Net Art - HYPERALLERGIC - by Rea McNamara - https://hyperallergic.com/609682/rip-adobe-flash-five-takeaways-about-the-plug-ins-legacy-in-net-art/ - Brooklyn NY / Dec 18, 2020
// Raw Talent: How this spoken word video came to be - Featured Artist - CBC Nova Scotia - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/community/raw-talent-how-this-spoken-word-video-came-to-be-1.5479690?fbclid=IwAR1k3j0NRObi-bqo5x9v3EXPAF9zo-MG3oRt7Q0S-4s3znb1y-gWY9eeF2w - NS, CAN - 2020
// Raw: A spoken word piece that speaks to being true to yourself - Animator and Co-Director - CBC Creator Network - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/raw-spoken-word-nova-scotia-1.5473945?utm_campaign=likeshopme&utm_medium=instagram&utm_source=dash%20hudson&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/B8_Y1zPHOVL/ - NS, CAN - 2020
// Burning Magazine - illustration - November Issue - "WANTING TO POSSESS A CANDLE FLAME WHEN U HAVE THE SUN" - https://expozine.ca/en/fair/fair-2020/ - https://issuu.com/burningmagazine/docs/b_u_r_n_i_n_g_no_1_layout_zine_spreads - https://www.instagram.com/p/B4cngJChF8v/ - Halifax NS - 2019
// Canadian Youth occupy MP Offices across the country calling for climate action - Canada's National Observer - Photographer - https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/11/30/news/canadian-youth-occupy-mp-offices-across-country-calling-climate-action - Halifax NS - November 30, 2018
// Divest Dal Campout - No More Excuses - The Nova Scotia Advocate - Photographer - https://nsadvocate.org/2017/11/27/divest-dal-campout-no-more-excuses/ - Halifax NS - November 27, 2017

EXHIBITIONS
// Our Lives in the Toxic Blume (olittb) - Class digital art exhibition - Factory Media Lab / McMaster University - Hamilton ON - 2023 - https://www.factorymediacentre.ca/thing-k-power-exhibition/ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHFSpS6jHGo

// Neutral Ground 40th anniversary party archival animation - Animation Projection - Neutral Ground Artist-Run Centre, Regina SK, November 19, 2022 
// AR Animation Artist - Toronto Junction BIA - First Annual Winter Wonderland Window Exhibit -
https://totimes.ca/window-art-comes-to-life-right-before-your-eyes/?fbclid=IwAR2m3DsI_9Xk6ws6pjIlHJ2_cNaOo39pNLiwg01AX_AKmGLa76LBijnY4xo- https://www.narcity.com/en-ca/things-to-do/toronto/torontos-first-alternate-reality-exhibition-has-hit-the-junction-its-so-magical - - Toronto, ON - Nov 2020
// Thoughts of a Digital Archivist - Window Gallery - Neutral Ground Artist Run Centre - https://www.neutralground.sk.ca/?page=eventdetail&year=2020&id=202091020000157 - https://www.gallerieswest.ca/events/clara-chen-thoughts-of-a-digital-archivist/ - Sep-Oct 2020
// Back alley art pops up in downtown Regina - CTV Regina - https://regina.ctvnews.ca/back-alley-art-pops-up-in-downtown-regina-1.5074770 - Regina, SK - 2020 { PostModern Bazaar - Alley Door Mural Artist - Regina Downtown BID - https://reginadowntown.ca/alley-door-art-artists-2020/ - 2020 }// Nocturne 2019 - illustration and prose - A Soft Place - NSCAD Queer Collective - NSCAD Library Windows - 5163 Duke Street - https://www.instagram.com/p/B4AUumMnyG7/ - Halifax NS - Oct 24 2019
// Mom's Garden - Plants in Contemporary Art (group show) - University of Regina Faculty of Media, Art and Performance - https://vimeo.com/343377845 - 2019
// Anination: Animation Nation - Expanded Media Showcase (group show) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLPH69gkiUo&feature=emb_logo - NSCAD Film Academy - Halifax NS - 2019
// 唐人! - Printmaking Showcase (group show) - NSCAD Port Campus - Halifax NS - 2018
// Living Skies - Alley Door Mural Artist - RDBID - https://reginadowntown.ca/alleydoorart/ - Regina SK - 2018
// The Bus Ride - GBDA Digital Art Showcase - UWaterloo Stratford Campus - https://uwaterloo.ca/stratford-school-of-interaction-design-and-business/events/2017-project-showcase-and-reception - https://www.instagram.com/p/BgZ_A76l-Jk/ - digital illustration for Karin Schmidlin @ University of Waterloo Stratford Campus - Stratford ON - 2017
// Mosaic City - Traffic Box Digital Mural Artist - RDBID - https://reginadowntown.ca/trafficboxart/ - Regina SK - 2017
// Don't Trust a Skinny Chef - Painting - German Expressionists and their Contemporaries - Dunlop Art Gallery & Regina Central Library - Regina SK - 2017

CONTESTS
// 24 Hours Animation Film Contest - Sheridan College - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmAFwu8f-_A - Oakville, ON - Oct 10 2019
// Project: Better - QHacks Best Design Award - UX/UI Designer - Queen's University - https://devpost.com/software/better - https://twitter.com/AutocodeHQ/status/960172056959766529 - Kingston, ON - 2018
// Stratford Campus UXPerience Design Camp - Project: Beyond Innovation - University of Waterloo - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gduKB1tD_K9hkNHiIrF0siZfy2Gp2t9mm2g-C3Y7TGk/edit#slide=id.gd9c453428_0_16 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I5U2_mcjrg - Stratford, ON - 2016

volunteer
// Unit 1 Steward - CUPE 3906 - $250 bursary paid - McMaster University | 2023 - 2024
// Film festival laurel designer for Microbeaf 2023 Experimental Film Festival | May 20, 2023
// Co-Project Manager (fall term) - third-year group stop-motion animation film, Bridget, Sheridan College - Oakville, ON, 2021-2022
// Divest Dal - communications volunteer - Halifax, NS | 2017 -2019

JURIES
// Nuit Blanche Regina - volunteer jury member for 2021 Nuit Blanche installations - https://nuitblancheregina.ca/- Regina, SK
// Neutral Ground Artist-Run Centre - paid jury member for 2022 - 2024 exhibition programming (window and main gallery) | Regina, SK




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Copyright ©2024 artist Cyril W. Chen