Singer Chen Chusheng turns album into visual art project

Chen Chusheng, the winner of Hunan TV's Singer 2025, is integrating visual art into his music distribution strategy. He commissioned 14 original paintings from contemporary artist Li Erpeng specifically for the vinyl release of his album Wasteland of Wonders. The partnership aims to extend the album's impact beyond audio, creating a physical object that reflects the emotional content of the recordings.

The vinyl edition has already achieved commercial success. On June 9, the day pre-orders began, the QQ Music platform awarded the release a Double Diamond sales certification. This early traction supports the decision to elevate the physical format through high-end visual components rather than relying solely on digital streaming.

Chen stated that he views music as more than a听觉 experience. He said, "With this LP, I hope that, alongside listening, people can also see the emotions, fractures and growth within 'Wasteland of Wonders.'" He described Li as an artist he admires and credited him with transforming the record into a durable artwork.

Li developed the 14 canvases in parallel with the music production. Some pieces respond directly to specific tracks, while others emerged from narratives that surfaced during the creative process. Li explained that his role is to translate the world built by the music onto canvas. He said, "When people receive this physical LP, I hope they won't just hear the songs, but also see the life, growth and hope within the images."

Li is based in Hong Kong and is represented by Winners Gallery for this project. He is known for collector-oriented pieces featuring legendary figures, often combining painting with elaborate sculptural frames. His recent practice has expanded into film, where he is preparing a computer-generated animated world for a project currently in pre-production. His works are held in the collections of the Central Academy of Fine Arts Museum in Beijing and Sydney's White Rabbit Gallery.

Chen first rose to prominence in 2007 after winning Hunan TV's Super Boy. He returned to the same broadcaster in 2025 to win its top singing contest. In April 2026, he held a stadium concert in Nanchang that attracted approximately 50,000 attendees, setting a personal record for crowd size.

According to Beijing Radio & Television, the 50,000 tickets for the Nanchang show sold out in 24 minutes. A report from Nanchang's state-assets authority attributed close to RMB1 billion, or $149 million, in local consumer spending to the event.