The Truly Ugly Duckling

The Truly Ugly Duckling is an animated short film that is comprised of three parts which can be viewed independently. Adapted from the well-known tale, the film seeks to explore pluralistic standards of beauty. The ironic retelling of the tale is whimsical in its presentation, yet it prompts its viewers to reconsider the value of beauty. 

Chan Yung-Jen is an artist based in Taipei, Taiwan. Her works include sculpture, installation, photography, communal projects, publications and videos. She has a professional background in mould making and stage production, which reflects in her works. She uses the emotional and societal connotations of physical mass to investigate society and relationships between humans and their material constructions. She combines different forms and objects, to compare and discuss different definitions of selves, bodies, groups, society, and other elements from small to large. For the artist, creating an artwork is like sampling the reality of people’s lives. Through her gentle and humorous practice, she shows the absurdity of human life by collecting and interacting with uncanny fragments.