Sijia Chen - Using Her Art as a Bridge

Episode 19 of the The Jeremiah Show: Pop Culture, Music Icons Food Gods podcast, hosted by Jeremiah D. Higgins | Culinary, Pop Culture & Music Expert, titled "Sijia Chen - Using Her Art as a Bridge" was published on September 26, 2025 and runs 56 minutes.

September 26, 2025 ·56m · The Jeremiah Show: Pop Culture, Music Icons Food Gods

Summary

THE JEREMIAH SHOW Featuring Artist Sijia Chen. Sijia transforms the centuries-old craft of Chinese paper-cutting into vivid contemporary collage, painting, and large-scale sculpture.    "We are a human chain, linked through the years.  We all left to pursue a better life."   Sijia and Jeremiah explore the significance of ancestry and heritage, exploring how understanding one's roots can shape identity and influence artistic expression. The conversation features artist Sijia Chen, who discusses her journey from Shantou, China, to the United States, and how her cultural background informs her work in paper cutting. The discussion underscores the significance of storytelling, the importance of sharing immigrant experiences, and the power of art in bridging cultural divides.   Takeaways Understanding our ancestry can provide valuable life lessons. Each generation has a growing number of ancestors, highlighting our shared history. Cultural identity is often explored through art and personal narratives. Sijia Chen's work reflects her journey and the immigrant experience. Art can serve as a bridge between cultures and generations. Public art projects can engage communities and reflect local stories. The significance of family connections in shaping identity is profound. Immigrant stories are essential to understanding the human experience. Art forms like paper cutting can be reinterpreted for contemporary audiences. Sharing stories fosters connection and understanding among diverse communities. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Ancestry and Heritage07:56 The Art of Paper Cutting and Cultural Identity10:23 Journey of an Artist: Sijia Chen's Path15:15 Understanding Shantou: A City of Tradition and Change20:54 Connecting Through Art: Family and Ancestry35:09 The Urgency of Sharing Immigrant Stories41:31 Public Art and Community Engagement A short film of Sijia’s work, created by the Victoria & Albert Museum, can be seen here:  https://tinyurl.com/sijiachen   On Instagram @Sijiachenart  https://www.instagram.com/sijiachenart/   Sijia Studio Website:   www.sijiachen.com   YOU CAN SEE SIJIA CHEN’S ART AT RUBENSTEIN CHAN CONTEMPORARY ART By Appointment Only (805) 576-6152 [email protected] 410 Palm Avenue, B3 Carpinteria, CA 93013   UNFOLD EXHIBIT Dates of exhibit:  September 13 - October 26 Featured Artists:  Sijia Chen, Chiho Harazaki, Kaoru Mansour Website: https://www.rubensteinchan.com/ On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubenstein_chan   - - -   THE JEREMIAH SHOW Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories    POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS  The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE   Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com   Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows  The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show   THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES  Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/ MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/ Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/ Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/ Rubenstein Chan Contemporary Art - https://www.rubensteinchan.com/   The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris   JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SOUND ENGINEER GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio , On Instagram: Surprise Studio   Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS

Episode Description