We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sihan Yama Li a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sihan Yama, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is an experimental short film called “Breathe, Like A Dead Tree”, where I explored my identity by reflecting on my roots in a poor, remote county in Southwest China. This project was also my first attempt at combining multiple media, including 3D scanning, 3D modeling, CG animation, and live-action shooting. The process ignited my passion for experimenting with different forms of media. This fusion created a dialogue between my scanned body and my hometown’s trees, incorporating elements like tree bark, fire, water, and my grandmother’s wrinkles. The result was a scenario that exists between reality and virtuality.

This project is significant because it allowed me to confront my lingering feelings of being “trapped” by my origins, despite living in a modern world. It marked a turning point in my creative journey, where I began to use art as a way to navigate my internal conflicts, bridging my past and present while sparking my love for multimedia experimentation.

Sihan Yama, 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?

I was born and raised in China and am now a multimedia artist based in Los Angeles, specializing in CG animation, motion design, and digital art. Before I got into this field, I often questioned, “Who am I?” and “How can I express my authentic self?” The moment I started using animation and video to express my emotions, I realized how much moving images resonated with my inner voice. That’s what motivated me to switch my undergraduate major from Biology to Design, Media Arts at UCLA, and later pursue graduate studies in Experimental Animation at California Institute of the Arts.

What sets my work apart is that it’s non-linear, abstract, and poetic. I focus on creating time-based digital projects and love to experiment with blending animation with other media, like live-action footage, interactivity, and installation. Each of my projects starts with a conceptual poem, which forms the emotional foundation of the piece, even if the poetry isn’t obvious to the viewer.

Early in my career, I explored themes of identity, existential crises, and social oppression, but over time my work became more philosophical and minimalistic. In my latest project, Mumbling Sand, I used minimalist textures and flowing particles to explore universal truths. The piece was projected onto a 360-degree dome at Spectra Studio LA, creating an immersive experience for the audience.

Moving forward, I want to keep integrating poetry into my projects while continuing to experiment with different digital media. I plan to push these boundaries even further while staying true to the poetic essence that defines my work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to sort through my own thoughts and emotions. Creating art acts as a form of meditation. When I take the chaotic thoughts in my mind and deconstruct them through digital media, everything becomes clearer and more organized. As my work progresses, I often find a sense of inner calm. It’s almost like art is a process of reducing entropy—simplifying the chaos within me and expressing complex emotions through visuals and sound. Not only does this help me gain a deeper understanding of myself, but it also allows me to connect with the world around me, especially when audiences resonate with my work.

Through art, I’m constantly reflecting on the relationship between myself and the world, something I never really considered before becoming an artist. In a way, being an artist is very much a journey of meditating on my own existence.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Honestly, I wish I had known more about gallery exhibitions, competitions, and other platforms where I could showcase my work earlier in my journey. I was very focused on creating, but I didn’t spend enough time exposing my work to broader audiences. If I had been more aware of those opportunities, I think I would’ve felt more motivated, received valuable feedback, and connected with others in the field. It would have opened up more chances to engage with fellow creatives, exchange ideas, and find new sources of inspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yamawavawani.cargo.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yamawava_orz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sihan-yama-li/

Image Credits

Mingyi Wan