Saratoga teen exhibits artwork he hopes inspires environmental legislation

Jul 19, 2023

Saratoga teenager Aiden Chen is exhibiting his paintings of endangered bird species in the hopes of raising awareness and promoting conservation efforts to protect them.

“I’m currently advocating for a bill in the California Legislature, AB 38,” Aiden said, “and I believe it would reduce light pollution in California, which would help protect a lot of birds, because artificial light at night can confuse them and cause them to crash into buildings. So millions of birds die every year due to light pollution, so reducing it would be a great help for the population.”

The paintings are on display through Sept. 5 at the Saratoga Library, located at 13650 Saratoga Ave., and Aiden will host an artist’s reception on Sunday, Aug. 27, 3-4 p.m. The 28 paintings in the exhibit include landscapes, portraits and plein air works.

Aiden said he separated his artwork into thematic groups, one of which showcases the growth and evolution of his skills over time. His plein air series features paintings of Saratoga, showcasing his love for the city.

He painted the Memorial Arch in the Saratoga Village, as well as an historical adobe house in downtown Saratoga and scenes from Wildwood Park.

“Painting these places has given me a newfound appreciation for the ordinary peace and tranquility in our lives that we take for granted,” Aiden said in an email. “All of the paintings are from the scenery around Saratoga. I have crossed those roads, passed those buildings hundreds of times, and yet I have never truly acknowledged their existence until now.”

Aiden is hoping his paintings of the endangered birds will inspire people to sign his petition on Change.org to support the legislation.

“Diversity is very important, and it’s a shame for these really great species to disappear,” he said.

Aiden, a junior at Saratoga High School, started painting when he was 4 years old. He worked with Chinese artist Duan Zhao Nan at the Duan Art Studio in San Jose before exploring other art forms like oil painting.

He’s involved in the Loma Prieta chapter of the Sierra Club, where he advocates for environmental legislation like AB 38, also called the Night Sky bill. Aiden is also involved in the Youth Achieve Academy and the Youth Climate Action Team.

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