Ms Dong’s PJs by Karen Chappelow

Artist Statement

Chinese PJ law breakers

“Ms Dong, one of many citizens from Suzhou in China, has been charged with ‘uncivilised behaviour’. Many citizens have been named and shamed for appearing public in their Pj’s. Their names, pictures, ID numbers, and locations where the “offences” occurred have all been displayed publicly. The government isusing facial recognition software to find these deviants to stamp out unruly behaviour. Ms Dong, a young woman, was wearing a plush pink robe with matching pants and orange pointy flat shoes – definitely a crime mixing those two colours together!

The raven represents the all-seeing and a symbol for surveillance (often represented in mythology-especially Odin’s ravens-Huginn and Muninn).”

About the Artist

“I like it when I get a physical reaction from people when they view my art.  The whimsy, fun and sometimes political nature of life is evident in my work.  By expressing the fierceness of a female, the ridiculous in a scenario, becomes a message turned into humour softening the blow, breaking down barriers.  The expressionist nature of my work tries to blur the edges of reality and hopefully makes people smile, wonder, think and create conversation.”

Karen Chappelow has been sculpting and painting for more than 20 years, she has a drive for bucking the system and invites the viewer to view life through a different lens. Karen has collectors both Nationally and Internationally.

In recent times Karen has been extensively exhibiting in New York, Madrid, Luxembourg, Berlin, Rome and Malmo-Sweden. Also exhibiting in group shows in Perth and Melbourne. Karen’s work has appeared on the “The Block” a TV renovation show on Channel 9.

Karen will also be appearing in Home Design Magazine August 2023 edition.