Lechen Zheng

“Even though many people don’t see eroticism as a serious topic, I am still trying to use my own art language to explore how it holds meanings in gender narratives,” says Lechen Zheng. “I often get inspiration from my own stories, and honestly, they can be a bit heavy. But I choose to present them with humor.” The London-based, cross-cultural artist and researcher focuses on desire and feminism, as well as queer intimacy and fetishistic cultures. She works across multiple mediums, including photography, ink painting, and edible sculptures. “I realize that I am sharing painful stories with a smile, and people respond by laughing and saying, ‘I relate to this,’ ‘Me too,’ or ‘This happened to me as well,’” says Zheng, whose work has won multiple international awards, been acquired by institutional collections, and displayed in London, Athens, and Detroit. “That’s when I feel the deepest sense of accomplishment—allowing myself and others to face past trauma that comes from being who we are more lightly. To find release through laughter means [more] to me than anything else.” Part of Zheng’s long-term plan is to pursue professional training in art therapy. “I want to be a person who can truly help people who are suffering from sexual issues, whether physically or mentally,” she says. “I wish to combine [art therapy] with what I’m doing now to find more possibilities between art, women, and society.” –LE