Dominique Chan

Visual artist Dominique Chan was born in France (Quimper, Brittany, 1950) to a Chinese father and a French mother, spending part of his youth in Paris. After several years traveling across Europe, he settled permanently in Amsterdam in 1975. Following his studies at the Rietveld Academy (1980-1985), he embarked on two study trips to China (1986 and 1987), where he delved into Chinese calligraphy. Subsequently, he traveled extensively to various parts of the world—Asia, the Americas, Australia—absorbing impressions, learning about different cultures, and recording his experiences through painting and journaling. The impressions he gathered in China are a recurring theme in his work, as he integrates elements like Chinese newspapers and stamps into his art. Over the years, Dominique Chan’s work has evolved into a balanced composition of colors, utilizing all means to fully exploit their unique properties. Like the “constructivists,” he employs groups of colors that appear consistently across his individual works. His art exudes a sense of freedom, achieved through vibrant, direct color choices and the seemingly chaotic application of paint on the canvas. His work is also notable for its division into different sections, each telling its own story. These sections and colors create a backdrop for figures, which Chan captures quickly and effectively. The joyful quality of Dominique Chan’s work is appreciated worldwide. His work is regularly exhibited both nationally and internationally and is included in numerous major corporate and private collections.