Who am i

My works are the unique sensory organs I never grew.

I view my artistic creations as an extension of myself, capturing emotions and thoughts I cannot express verbally in the context of my growing up. I was always taught not to state things bluntly. All things needing expression must take several detours before reaching their final destination. Feelings have become exceptionally important. Eastern culture prefers more implicit expressions; beneath a simple form, there may be more unexposed elements, like glaciers hidden deep under the sea. In my abstract or figurative works, I embed 'myself' within.

Ever since a young age, I liked collecting various bags and storing them in a particular cabinet. Until reusable bags became more prevalent last year, I was forced to abandon this habit. I always believed that someday there would be a special occasion, so I would open it and use the bags inside.

To me, the form of my work is like those hidden bags. They are the people I meet, scenes I witness, and encounters I experience regularly in my life. All things are stored in my mental cabinet like the stored bags. I may take them out and savor them whenever I’m alone or scrutinize them after experiencing something special, much like I love arranging things and placing them in their dedicated spot. It's as if these things and I create our own story the moment when I arrange them. 

Life is about living from one moment to the next.

I hope my work can create an atmosphere for people to step out of the mundane and focus more on one's self. My pieces contain the unforgettable stories from my cabinet and the past I've experienced. I'm hoping people could find a connection. 

I always felt that artists shouldn’t be bound by the medium, especially as an artist who is still exploring. I could use whatever medium I deem to express my concept best. I also once naively thought that ceramics were just pots and jars, hardly a creative art form. But as I became more intimate with the materials, I realized it was not what I thought it was. Clay, derived from nature, seems moldable into any shape, but inadvertently, it silently becomes something that follows its rhythm. Without any confrontation, yet without losing its characteristics. It always unintentionally manifests its existence through its unique way of being. 

Starting with ceramics was a complete coincidence. A professor in college casually mentioned that trying a 3D medium might suit me better when I was having trouble translating my ideas into my work. The medium of clay effortlessly consolidated all my thoughts into a very tangible existence. When working with clay, I can see my thoughts, thread by thread, all converging at my fingertips.

Later, I realized that I missed many things because I assumed they were in a certain way. I always self-righteously default to it, thinking this is how it should be, but it is not.

Ziyi Zhao