Louis Chinn, aka Jyun Jyun is a multi-disciplinary artist specializing in large scale, place based installations, and music. His work explores the theme of transformation as both aesthetic quality and experience. Through public artwork, education and performance, he has dedicated his career to making art free, accessible and essential, regardless of social position. Drawing influence from his mixed race heritage, upbringing in indigenous Alaska and international residencies, his work evokes new narratives of migration, diaspora and belonging, reminding us of our connections to heritage, the earth and each other. As a teaching artist, he dedicated over a decade to innovating community building and social justice programs for youth, leveraging art and music as a means of empowerment and discovery for some of the most diverse zip codes in the country.
Louis’s multi-sensory installations and performances weave visual art, music and digital technology into immersive, ritualistic experiences. These works explore ancient futures and cultural cross pollination through a cosmic-mythic-animist lens. His philosophy, approach and imaginative works have garnered domestic and international support in museums, organizations, businesses and government agencies across the U.S., Mexico and China. Exhibitions and performances include the SFMOMA, SF Asian Art Museum, Berkeley Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Xucun Arts Center in China, SOMArts Cultural Center and more. For over 5 years he also curated his own grant sponsored, multidisciplinary arts festival showcasing Asian American artists and heritage.
As public artist, his work honors the complex process of placemaking and placekeeping: weaving together stories of belonging, community resilience, and bridging history with future potential. Significant works include a sculptural mural using 8,000 lbs of intricate steel panels on a 307-ft long concrete wall for the diverse communities of Hayward, CA, an 18ft wind-powered, kinetic sculpture consisting of an illuminated steel nest with 22 flying aluminum origami birds- a symbol for resilience for the Chinatown community in Seattle, WA, a permanent indoor installation spanning 3 stories in Monmouth, OR- using the water cycle as a metaphor for human movement, an interactive sculptural splash pad and mural interweaving deep geologic time with cultural migration in Salem, MA, and a 15 foot tall immersive basket sculpture that houses a land acknowledgment and native plant library for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of California.
