Rising Star Yanran Chen Brings Her Surreal Sculptures to ComplexCon 2025

Making cosmic waves at this year’s ComplexCon Hong Kong was 19-year-old Chinese artist Yanran Chen, who wowed the crowd with her eerie cyberpunk sculptures, quickly turning heads everywhere.
ComplexCon’s Complex Marketplace 2025 showcased over 150 trailblazing artists and brands, but Yanran’s booth was among those that stole the spotlight.
The Gen Z phenom is already making a name for herself, collaborating with every fashionable avant-garde label under the sun. She is the Creative Ambassador of LEUCHTTURM1917 China and co-artist of fashion label ROBBi, and has worked with international heavyweights like BALENCIAGA, Songmont, R13, and Wonderland.
Returning to ComplexCon after debuting her Playpower Collection at ComplexCon Las Vegas last year, Yanran brought a new showstopper to Hong Kong: a series of six characters inspired by "Supernova Era," the sci-fi novel by Hugo Award-winning Chinese author Liu Cixin of “The Three-Body Problem” fame.

“It’s my first time designing these characters and collaborating with Liu Cixin,” she shared. “I’m super excited to share my works with the Hong Kong audience.”
Crossing over with the animation label WaarWorld, her sculptures blurred the line between hyperrealism and postmodern sci-fi fantasy. Each haunting mechanical figure echoed the dystopian narrative of Liu’s story, where children are left to rebuild society through violent games and battles following a cosmic catastrophe.

Yanran also displayed concept illustrations of the characters and post-apocalyptic prints, highlighting her range and knack for visual storytelling.

This new series is infused with Japanese horror manga influences. “This time, I researched a lot of references for the characters and their different stories. We also brought the mini versions of the characters to this year’s ComplexCon," Yanran said.
Yanran’s signature blend of mechanical precision and girlish vulnerability shone through other pieces, like "Fantasy Plastic Bag," a haunting sculpture of a girl whose face is ensnared in a glossy plastic bag.

Her sculpture "Dinner" was a visually compelling clash of Rococo elegance with Industrial Revolution machinery, showing a robotic girl resembling Yanran who is carving into a human heart. The show's centerpiece, "Nightmare Robot," featured three emotionless faces twisting on a screw-like base — an uncanny fusion of flesh and machine.

Yanran's creative process is equally forward-thinking. Starting with sketches in Procreate, she brings her visions to life with the help of her team at her studio ACCRO STUDIO, transforming digital drawings into intricate 3D sculptures. She shared her expertise at a panel discussion, hosted by ComplexCon, giving insights on her creative process and how she integrates ever-evolving technologies into her workflow.

Drawing inspiration from Japanese manga, antique toys, and French experimental films, Yanran cited H.R. Giger, Junji Ito, Shintaro Kago, and Moebius as her creative north stars. She recalled the Japanese animation "Crayon Shin-Chan" as having an impact on her since she was young.

Although drawing remains her favorite medium, Yanran's eyes are set on animation. “Next year, I want to try doing animations for these characters. That would be amazing. It's been my dream to be a director of an animation ever since I was six years old," she shared.
Looking ahead, Yanran will be developing a brand-new IP series for POP MART, slated for release next year. Yanran's enthusiasm was palpable, exclaiming, "I can't wait to see them!" And honestly, neither can we.
Stay connected to Yanran Chen on her website. Follow her on Instagram (her art account here), or X (Formerly Twitter).
Get the latest curated content with The Beat Asia's newsletters. Sign up now for a weekly dose of the best stories, events, and deals delivered straight to your inbox. Don't miss out! Click here to subscribe.