In(tima) Moralia

An ongoing series subtitled “reflections of shattered life”

Stephen grew up queer, critical and creative in a repressive and conformist “meritocratic” Asian society, and eventually ended up living in exile in North America. Wrestling with Bipolar Depression and Schizoid Disorder, he started writing poetry to release, to cope, to express what was suppressed to maintain and fit in the facade of “normalcy’ in order to survive.

This poetry grew over the years to comprise over 10 volumes and was collected and published for the first time.

CREATED BY: STEPHEN CHEN | COMPLETED: 21/12/2022


PSYCHEDELIC DREAMS

lines from ages 18 – 28

DYING PRAYERS

lines from 2004

SACRIFICIAL TREES

lines post 9/11

TERRIBLE SANITIES

lines from early 30s

FALLEN ANGELS

lines from mid 30s

ASCETIC FUGITIVE

lines from 2004

FUTILE OVERTURES

lines approaching 40

OVERT FETISHES

lines at 40

FOOLS GOLD

cancer and convalesence

GOD FARTS

lines from early to mid 40s

GONE DYKE

queer(y)ing the klondike

WE’RE MADE OF CLAY

dismembered natuire

DESTINY REPEATING

triggered relapses

dissonance productions
Started by trans-discplinary art-ivist Stephen Chen to consolidate his recent work; as well as facilitate collaboration with others. Stephen’s oeuvre is often allegorical as well as simultaneously deconstruct and hybridize the very forms he works in. Disdaining academic and esoteric expressions, as well as institutional conventions and practices, Stephen explores complex ideas and issues immanent in his works through experiments in form and technique.