Casey Chen

My practice references historical illustrations from folklore, mythology and pop culture, blending childhood nostalgia with East Asian ceramic traditions. In this work, I depict an imaginary dispute between Tom and Jerry during Song Dynasty China, as they progress through the ranks of the fictional outlaw group, the 108 Heroes – an irreverent interpretation of a rivalry that spans centuries. The panels follow the pair’s rise within the Jianghu (criminal underworld) from lowly lackeys to bandit chieftains, ultimately leading to Jerry’s precarious predicament: ‘a pretty kettle of fish’. This anachronistic and satirical rendering offers a cultural pastiche, inviting a dialogue between Chinese archetypal tales and contemporary society.