JESSIE LIJIAQI
- ARTISTIC HUB MAGAZINE
- Jun 7, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 3
LONDON | UK
Amplifying Voices: The Artistic Mission of Jessie Lijiaqi
Jessie Lijiaqi is an artist who blends Chinese painting, art history, and digital media into works that explore emotion, community, and social structure. Her works transcend individual expression, becoming collective creations that amplify under-represented communities through concepts such as public intervention and ‘urban rooms’. In this interview, Jessie reflects on her artistic journey, creative process, and inspirations, revealing how technology shapes and expands her artistic vision.
Your work spans a wide range of media and themes. How did you develop your artistic style, and what inspires you to combine Chinese painting, art history, and digital media?
My curiosity has always driven me to explore different forms of artistic expression. In this ongoing process of exploration, I continue to grow and learn. For me, developing an artistic style is a long journey of continuous exploration and self-reflection. More than a decade ago, I began studying Chinese painting, which revealed my passion for creation. Eventually, I entered a professional art academy to study painting in a more systematic way. There, I discovered the unique qualities of Western painting and sculpture alongside traditional Chinese art. Art history became a bridge that helped me understand both. The idea of “fusion” began to take shape in my mind. I often ask myself: “What new possibilities does creation hold? Could 2D paintings evolve into 3D installations? What if they existed virtually or digitally?” Guided by these questions, I turned to digital media art, from films and games to mixed installations, combining audio-visual elements to bring the stories and social issues behind my work to life with greater clarity and depth.
Could you explain further the concepts of “public intervention” and “urban rooms” in your work? How do these concepts impact the communities you work with?
Public interventions engage directly with specific sites, integrating environment, history, and context to connect with audiences. I study and analyze each situation carefully, aiming to create works that respond to their surroundings while reflecting broader social issues and the complex dynamics of urban development. An urban room is a space created for the community, where people can meet, discuss, share, and create together. My goal is to open a space for collective dialogue, a forum where everyone can participate and every voice can be heard. Art is no longer the creation of a single artist; it emerges through collective participation. This shift transformed my earlier approach of drawing inspiration from life and audience into a deeper reflection on what I can offer through my work. I often find myself wondering what the audience can truly take away from a work of art.
Your work focuses on amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. What methods do you use to connect with these communities and present their stories through your art?
Conducting on-site research within the community is essential. The simplest and most effective approach is to visit the community center frequently, take part in volunteer activities, and communicate openly with residents. Through this process, I gradually build genuine connections, trust, and friendships. Once a foundation of mutual trust is established, deeper and more meaningful conversations can unfold. Throughout this journey, I document our interactions through images and video, as capturing subtle emotions always becomes an integral part of the final work.
You describe technology as a bridge for conveying emotions. Could you tell us more about how technology plays a role in your creative process? What are some specific examples of your works that best illustrate this idea?
Digital technology enables me to model installations and spaces to better understand my subjects and to create films that accompany my projects. In the work When We Look into Each Other’s Eyes, I restored wedding footage and home videos my mother recorded before 1993. Through this process, I gained a new perspective on the lives of my parents and family. Using these videos as a starting point, I returned to the city where my mother spent her childhood to trace my family’s history. These recordings reflect the everyday lives of East Asian families. In an age dominated by technology, I hope my work returns to its essence, to pure emotion, and in doing so, resonates with the audience.
When We Look Into Each Other’s Eyes, 2023, Video Installation
The Digital Alchemy: Transforming Pixels into Emotions, 2023, Womanmade Gallery, Chicago
Your artistic portfolio includes diverse projects and exhibitions. Which projects or exhibitions have been the most significant to you, and why?
When We Look into Each Other’s Eyes is a deeply meaningful installation for me because it was created for my mother and for all mothers. I later expanded this theme into a video titled Lihong and Jiaqi, named after my mother and me. In the past, I often moved to new cities to live and pursue my artistic dreams, and my mother was always my greatest support. When I moved to the United Kingdom, the long distance and time difference made me realize how long it had been since I had last seen her. Dinner was once the only moment I truly spoke face to face with my mother when we lived together. While in the United Kingdom, I sometimes caught my reflection in the mirror on the table and felt as if my mother’s face and mine slowly merged into one. I had longed for a world far away, yet over time I began to forget the details of her face. I am an inseparable part of her life, but I had never truly explored her past. I began searching for her through our shared memories. My mother also took part in the preparation of the project. During the final exhibition, she and several visitors were deeply moved. Some came to hug me, while others shared their own stories about their mothers. All of these moments became the driving force behind my commitment to public participation and community projects in the future.
How have you utilized your education and experience from different cultural backgrounds (China, UK) to shape your artistic practice?
China and the United Kingdom have entirely different cultures, ways of thinking, and social structures, which I find fascinating and full of creative possibilities. This contrast allows me to approach art from a more objective and reflective perspective. For instance, after spending a long period in the United Kingdom, I often return to China and observe the vibrant markets and narrow alleys. Compared with cities in the United Kingdom, these scenes may appear more spontaneous, lively, and less structured, yet the local rhythm of life has its own sense of order. I find this deeply artistic and captivating. My time in the United Kingdom has also given me a more academic and disciplined approach. The presence of many accomplished artists provides valuable examples that inspire a more thoughtful and mature creative process.
What are your plans for the future? Are you currently working on any new projects that you would like to share with us?
Exploring the diversity and possibilities of artistic creation is something I will continue to pursue in the future. I am currently drawn to the history of Chinese immigrants in the Limehouse area of London, which was once the city’s first Chinatown. Today, those traces have almost completely disappeared. It was only when I came across letters written by former residents and their families on Narrow Street that I began to focus on the personal belongings they had preserved and carried with them, and I became curious about the stories behind these objects. Whenever we move or migrate, we carry pieces of our lives with us, and through them, we can glimpse fragments of our past. I hope to explore how personal possessions hold the memories and emotions of immigrant communities as they reflect on their histories.
Jessie Lijiaqi merges Chinese painting, art history, and digital media to create works that explore emotion, community, and the structures that shape society. Through her concepts of public intervention and urban rooms, she amplifies the voices of underrepresented groups, transforming collective experience into visually engaging and emotionally resonant art. In this interview, Jessie reflects on her artistic journey, methods, and inspirations, revealing the essential role that technology plays in shaping her creative process.
Photos: Jessie Lijiaqi
