We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Di Tian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Di thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project that I have worked on is an interactive installation that I did back in the summer of 2023 titled Mother / Father. It is an artwork for me to memorize my grandparents who passed away that summer.
In Mother / Father, I utilize 20 customized telescopic devices and make them move in certain patterns by coding. With an irregular up-and-down movement, all the machines intend to mimic the breathing of dying human lying in a sickbed. While the work stays silent and static without any audience interactions, the viewers are welcomed to wake the living being on the bed by circling around the bed and triggering the sensor. “Without companionship, the life in the bed is no different than a corpse.” This was what I wrote in the work description.
When we are born, we are brought into this world in a hospital bed; as we age, we eventually end up in the same place as we approach the end of our lives – the beginning and the end life is a sickbed.
Here is the link to this work: https://www.ditianarts.com/mother-father
Di, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Di Tian, born 1999 in Chongqing, China, is a New York-based new-media artist and designer. He received his B.F.A degree from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and M.F.A degree from University of Pennsylvania.
Di embarked on his art journey at the age of five, expressing himself mainly through drawing and painting as he skillfully brought his imaginative world to life. From a very early age, his art has already been featured in a range of international exhibitions, publications, and charity events. He held his first solo exhibition “Mosquitoes Also Can Dream” at Beijing 798 Art District in 2008 when he was nine, along with his personal charity event “For Children of China” by Amity Foundation in Shanghai (2011) , solo artworks collection published by Beijing Xiron Group (2013), and so on. However, Di does not limit himself to traditional forms; his current artworks involve a variety of mediums, such as interactive installations, computer graphics, and coding. His art continues to be globally recognized, participating in various exhibitions, such as “Contrasts” at Loosen Art Gallery in Rome (2021), Chengdu Biennale (2023) in China, and “4C Exhibition Q2 – Dwelling” at 4C Gallery in California (2024).
Di’s current art practice navigates through the human experiences in flflux. He delves into the complex interplay between individual identity and societal dynamics, especially within contemporary China. Through his works, he explores themes of existential angst, social expectations, and the search for meaning amidst modern challenges. Each piece serves as a mirror reflecting the inner turmoil and outer realities faced by individuals navigating the complexities of urban life and societal pressures. Through fusion of different mediums, Di encourages the audience to draw connections between their own experiences and my artworks, prompting them to contemplate the resonance and critical reflections they evoke in today’s rapidly evolving world.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most fulfilling thing for being an artist is seeing how audiences react to your artworks. For me, I always challenge the notion of art as a solitary experience. Through my time-based and interactive pieces, I invite the audience to linger in front of my works to engage deeply with my art, encouraging more than a cursory glance by fostering active participation and contemplation, transforming them from mere observers into integral components of the artwork. Thus, receiving viewers’ different responses is always awarding for me, because I am able to see if my works have built emotional connections as a bridge with the audience rather than a personal and privatized existence.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
As a new-media artist who works extensively with 3D animation, I used to spend loads of time trying to create character animations bit by bit by hand. I want the movement to be so accurate that animating simple gestures can cost me a whole day. However, after buying a motion capturing suit, my workflow has been significantly more efficient. I no longer need to animate everything by hand; I can now simply record the desired movements while wearing the suit. I truly wish I had discovered this resource earlier.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ditianarts.com
- Instagram: di_rkive
