Meet Decheng Cui | Artist&Gallerist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Decheng Cui and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Decheng, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
4C means for Contemporary Art, for Conceptual Art, for Chinese speaking Community.

We aim to provide a pure land for Chinese-speaking artist and audiences in the gap between Chinese culture and American culture, and to nurture their own soil. We will provide a continuous and professional exhibition space for Chinese American contemporary art in Los Angeles, and organize our own cultural activities for Chinese-speaking community in the United States.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Edited Answer:

My journey in the arts hasn’t necessarily been smooth, but rather punctuated with dramatic hardships. From a young age, I struggled with reading and exams due to an undiagnosed reading disorder. This not only made learning challenging but also significantly affected my self-esteem. While my native language is Chinese, I had to grapple with English as my second language. The reading disorder made my English learning experience even more tumultuous. Interestingly, my initial venture into the arts was an escape from the pressures of mastering English.

However, as I approached the college entrance exams in China, I was taken aback by the realization that proficiency in both English and Chinese was a prerequisite for the art college admissions. This meant that irrespective of my artistic abilities or overall grades, if my English scores weren’t up to the mark, my chances of getting admitted were slim. The path I chose to escape my linguistic struggles ironically put a spotlight on them.

During this challenging time, I am immensely grateful to authors like Jostein Gaarder, Schopenhauer, and Stephen Hawking. Their works took me beyond my immediate circumstances, transporting my thoughts to broader horizons. Their writings resonated deeply, requiring minimal reading to grasp profound insights. They validated many of my contemplations and ideas, reassuring me of their value and making me feel less isolated in my struggles.

Subsequently, as I delved deeper into the creative process, my innate artistic talents began to shine through. With every successful artwork, my confidence grew, building a foundation for my future in the arts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take my friend to the Getty Museum. Bring a bento and enjoy a lunch on the lawn of the Getty Museum. In the evening, I will take him to my gallery and enjoy excellent Chinese food in the surroundings.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In my life and artistic journey, I am most grateful for the following books and their authors: ‘Sophie’s World’ by Jostein Gaarder,’The Wisdom of Life’ by Schopenhauer, and ‘A Brief History of Time’ by Stephen Hawking.

Website: www.4cgallery.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/4c_gallery/

Other: www.cuidecheng.com