NC Qin

NC Qin’s sculptural practice examines the human psyche and seeks to express abstract emotional experiences in visual analogies. Through the medium of cast glass, she connects the process of material creation and engagement with evolutionary desires to grow and master our circumstances. Using repetitive imagery of ballet, she explores the idea of ‘becoming’ – the gradual and steady steps necessary to reach for the ideal. And with her Armour series, she delves into emotions – targeting those of pride and wrath, how they are perceived in the Chinese culture and explores the defence/coping mechanisms that are commonly used, their effectiveness and how they relate to the overall human experience. In her work, she often refers to Chinese cultural and historical values that are informed by Taoist philosophy and practice.

Graduating from SCA with a Bachelors in Visual Arts in 2015, NC Qin is a Sydney based artist who has exhibited locally and internationally including Wagga Wagga National Glass Art Museum, Griffith Regional Art Gallery, Ashmolean Museum of Art & Architecture, United Kingdom, Central Academy of Fine Art, Beijing, China, Gallery Lane Cove, Bankstown Art Centre, Fisher Library, Institute for Australian and Chinese Art and Culture, Western Sydney University and Fisher Library, University of Sydney. She was the Winner of Vicki Torr Emerging Artist Prize 2021, Winner of National Emerging Art Glass Prize 2020 and Finalist in 2018, Finalist in North Sydney Art Prize 2022, Art & Design Prize, Handmade in Britain, UK 2019, Finalist in Artbank Roadshow, Lismore 2019.

Art Atrium Artists Exhibition Opening – NC Qin and Mai Nguyen-Long

Art Atrium Artist in Conversation – NC Qin with Yin Cao

Art Atrium Exhibition Opening – Asher Milgate and NC Qin

Art Atrium Exhibition Opening – Year of the Tiger Chinese New Year Exhibition

Artwork

Simon Chan has established a reputation as a professional gallery director who has helped many aspiring artists by showing them in his Art Atrium Gallery. Mixing exhibitions of established artists with younger artists, he has created a perfect way to promote living artists in difficult times.

Simon has also endeavoured to get prominent figures in the art world to open his exhibitions, which is a good way to publicise and promote younger artists. I commend Simon’s activities, and hope that the artists he has promoted will not forget who first gave them a helping hand. It is the first step up which counts so much in today’s very competitive art world.

Lou Klepac OAM

Art historian, Author, Curator & Publisher

Art Atrium is the invention of Simon Chan, an Architect who has a passion for art, especially indigenous art and architectural drawings. He is one of the few people with the breadth of experience and opportunity to hold such shows at his gallery that demonstrate his discerning eye and appreciation for the unusual and the best of art.

Professor Philip Cox AO

Professor of Architecture UNSW & Founding Partner of Cox Architecture

Simon Chan is a practising architect with a passionate commitment to promoting contemporary art that reflects Australia’s multiculturalism, and in which Australian Indigenous art has an important dynamic presence. In 2009 he founded Art Atrium in Bondi Junction to provide a dedicated space that would allow him to share his artists’ works with audiences, and also to enjoy the physical experience of curating the exhibitions. I have observed the superb way he manages the launch of these events, and I know that all of his artists appreciate the encouragement and advice that he never hesitates to offer.

Dr. Mabel Lee PhD FAHA

Adjunct Professor of Chinese Studies, School of Languages & Culture A18, The University of Sydney

Simon has established an active platform at Art Atrium to encourage cross cultural expression and collaboration among artists from different cultural background. I was honoured to open an exhibition of Chinese Australian women artists, as well as to conduct an Artists in Conversation event when artists directly communicate with art lovers. His passion towards art goes beyond his Gallery, and leads him to generously support art endeavours in public art institutions. He offers guided tours as a Community Ambassador at Art Gallery of NSW, and also serves as a Director on the Board of VisAsia which plays a vital role in promoting Asian art in Australia.

Yin Cao

Curator of Chinese Art at ART GALLERY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

I love the paintings I have bought from Art Atrium - they have really struck a chord. It's also been an absolute pleasure talking with and buying from Simon; it's clear he's in it for the love of the art and that makes the whole experience so much less 'transactional' and more emotional.

Amanda Falconer

Management consultant & business storytelling specialist