Christine Chen

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA

Artist statement

On May 1, 2026, an MRI revealed a brain tumor that changed my life overnight. Eighteen days later, I underwent brain surgery, and pathology confirmed a Grade 3 oligodendroglioma. After six weeks of radiation, I am now preparing for chemotherapy. Tumi & Me was born directly from this experience. The film is a darkly comedic, deeply personal story about Christine, a work-obsessed, first-generation Taiwanese American filmmaker whose cancer diagnosis abruptly halts her life. Her tumor—nicknamed “Tumi”—becomes a claymation antagonist, giving physical form to the fear, anger, uncertainty, and absurdity of cancer. The story draws from experiences I have documented throughout treatment: surgery, radiation, medical bureaucracy, dependence on others, and reconnecting with family while confronting mortality. Filmmaking became a way to process something that often felt impossible to comprehend while living it. At its heart, Tumi & Me is about control. Christine has built her identity around independence, productivity, and solving problems. Cancer dismantles that identity. Suddenly, decisions about her body and future belong partly to doctors, insurance companies, test results, and treatment schedules. Rather than approach cancer solely through tragedy, I want to capture how frightening, frustrating, strange, funny, and deeply human it can be. The film blends grounded naturalism with surrealism, stop-motion animation, theatrical performance, and visual metaphor. Conversations...

Artwork