Grace Ren is a multidisciplinary artist who earned her BFA from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is currently working towards her MFA from The Glasgow School of Art. Throughout Grace’s time (so far) here on Earth, she has called many places home. She can’t help but feel that she’s not only lived in many places, but has lived many lives as well. One thing that has always remained as a constant is her interest in the intricate workings of human behaviour, and the understanding of which through creative expression. With the help of this thread she weaves her stories.

Hi Grace! Can you tell us how you arrived at the theme of your work?
I’ve been thinking about transformation a lot lately. I’ve been reflecting on the ways that I’ve transformed that’s led me to where I am today, and I’ve been wondering about the extent of transformation that could be for the future. Each time we proclaim we are new again and the old is gone (every rebrand, every glow up, every god I’m so embarrassed about who I used to be), it’s a statement that is both true and untrue: our past selves can never truly be gone because who we are at the present moment is a direct result of everything that’s come before, but who we were can never be preserved exactly as they were.

One of the things I find so interesting about still life paintings is that this supposed reminder of inevitable change takes form of something that’s in a way ‘frozen in time’. Memento Mori is a call to remember this must die and everything works in cycles, but this is still life, and still is life.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your artwork?
The themes present in this piece are so universal and yet so personal to everyone. As always I hope my work can serve as a starting point for my audience to reflect on their own experiences, and perhaps through that gain more insight into themselves.

What do you do to keep you motivated and interested in your art?
I try my best to embrace change and newness.

Can you elaborate on the significance or symbolism of the chosen title of your work?
Arcana is the plural noun of the word Arcanum, which means mysterious or specialised knowledge, language, or information accessible or possessed only by the initiate. You know it, I know it, and Madonna certainly knows it: life is a mystery.

Will your next project be a continuation of your current style or are you experimenting with something different? Can you share a glimpse of your next project?
I consider myself to be a multidisciplinary artist and love to try out different ways of making art. In terms of general themes I’ve come to realise there’s a big emphasis on intimacy in my work along with a focus on ‘domestic’ objects. Recently a friend of mine also described it as a sort of voyeurism into my life/feelings etc. Although I err on the side of seeking connection through mutual feelings and the specifics of the story is not as important. For example, if I’m making a piece about a specific event in my life, I don’t necessarily want the audience to think too much about my specific event. Rather I’d like for them to see that as a starting point to think about how they might have experienced something that invoked a similar feeling and so on and so forth.

As of now I envision the second part of the series to be titled Cocoon, which will be a further exploration of the butterfly as a symbol for rebirth.

Are there any upcoming events or additional information you would like the audience to know?
I’m currently working on another project called about a broken promise and I’m still accepting (anonymous) submissions as of now. For more details please visit @aboutabrokenpromise on Instagram.

Find out more about Grace and her work on Instagram. Our Winter Open Call exhibition features an incredible collection of works by twenty-six artists who have each considered the season and explored the interplay of light and shadow, warmth and cold, presence and absence, through a wide range of mediums and styles. Chiaroscuro runs at Six Foot Gallery until Thursday 9th January 2025