We were lucky to catch up with Chang Liu recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chang, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
As someone who is passionate about contributing to build a society with more empathy and diversity, and supporting the visibility of talented young artists, last summer has been very meaningful in my journey so far. Together with a close friend and creative partner, I co-founded Manifold Space while at university, driven by our shared vision to amplify the voices of young artists in urban spaces. Recognizing the challenges young artists face in gaining visibility, we launched ‘Home away from Home’ – a public exhibition in East London, born out of our initiative to engage in meaningful discussions about cultural displacement, the concept of home, and the impact of the pandemic on these themes.
Our exhibition, hosted at the culturally significant House of Annetta, was not just a space but a statement. Nestled between Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, an area steeped in rich immigration history and the creative pulse of artists, makers, and designers, it offered the perfect backdrop to explore our themes. The House of Annetta, with its own storied past of conservation, creativity, and community, played a pivotal role. Once under the care of architect, artist, and campaigner Annetta Pedretti, it now serves as a cultural hub that supports collectives like ours, fostering a cycle of creative and communal growth.
Featuring 26 artists, the exhibition explored the theme of home and delved into the complexities of identity shaped by one’s background and cultural origin. It wasn’t just an exhibition; it was a dialogue – one that we were privileged to curate, inviting participants to discuss cultural displacement, travelling, and reflect on their own notions of home in a post-pandemic world.
Through ‘Home away from Home,’ our goal was to transform the House of Annetta into a curated repository of spatial memories, representing the diverse experiences of home that we all carry. In doing so, we aimed not only to provide a platform for young artists but also to draw attention to the ongoing dialogue about culture, identity and belonging in today’s society
Chang, 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?
As a visual designer and a curator, I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of art and technology, challenging traditional notions of art as a static and isolated entity. My journey began since I studied at Central Saint Martins College and the Royal College of Art, where I started to explore the transformative potential of art—how it can foster dialogue, spark curiosity, and invite contemplation.
In my work, I use a variety of mediums to lead my audiences to re-examine the relationship between humans and technology, and in particular how the development of technology will affect the way we process emotions. Instead of presenting my work as solutions, I approach it through the lens of speculative design. I believe the inherent optimism of design often makes us overlook the unfixable nature of many challenges we face today—challenges that require a shift in our values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviour. Therefore, through my design work, I aim to trigger thoughtful consideration of today’s social issues and open new perspectives on these ‘wicked problems.’
Since 2017, I worked as a part-time graphic designer at the P.W Group as well a pursuing my own creative experiments as a freelance curator, including found Manifold Space with her creative partner during the pandemic. This art collective was born from my desire to offer young artists a platform to showcase their work, especially those constrained by the costs of physical galleries. Last year, Manifold Space designed, curated and opened our first physical group exhibition, “Home Away From Home”. The success of the exhibition reinforces our commitment to encourage British young artists including myself to communicate with local city spaces they inhabit.
My journey is an exploration of the possibilities that emerge when visual and interactive design converge. It is also a continuous journey of experimentation and innovation, where the synergy between technology, aesthetics, and human interaction is explored to its fullest. By bridging the gap between art and the audience, I aspire to create not just exhibitions but transformative experiences that encourage a deeper engagement with the world and provoke thoughtful connections to the spaces we share.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Supporting artists and cultivating a vibrant creative ecosystem requires an integrated approach that goes beyond conventional spaces like galleries, which often come with high thresholds and costs. Society can play a crucial role in providing spaces that bridge the gap between artists and the city, thereby creating a more inclusive and dynamic environment for creative expression.
From my personal journey in the creative field, I discovered the critical need for accessible spaces for artists. Engaging in freelance curatorial projects, I’ve sought to push the boundaries of traditional art spaces. This led to the foundation of Manifold Space, an art collective I started with a creative partner during the pandemic. Our aim was to design original digital galleries for artists who unable to secure physical spaces, to promote their work and to offer tours of these creative spaces. By doing so, we aspired to identify and support talented young artists in various creative fields and build a strong online presence which can foster collaboration and creative exchanges among international artists and local communities.
The exhibition “Home Away From Home” was our first physical group exhibition. It proposed the concept of utilizing diverse city spaces as canvases for storytelling, enabling artists to engage in a dynamic conversation with their surroundings. Through Manifold Space, we strive to become a pivotal platform for young British artists, including myself, to interact with and draw inspiration from the local city spaces they inhabit.
In essence, fostering societal support for artists involves broadening the scope of available creative spaces and dismantling the barriers to artistic expression. By embracing such measures, we not only elevate the artistic community but also enrich the societal landscape with endless possibilities, transforming it into a more vibrant and inclusive environment for all.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
In my view, one of the most important value of artists lies in their exceptional sensibility and romantic vision, underscored by their capacity to evoke emotions in others. My journey through learning and creativity has revealed that both the artwork and the process of its creation hold the power to emotionally resonate with an audience.
For example, Stefan Sagmeister’s exploration of happiness, particularly through his series ‘The Happy Show,’ stands as a compelling testament to this idea. Sagmeister utilizes interactive elements to directly engage the audience, thereby proving that art can profoundly influence people’s feelings and moods. One notable installation, ‘The Happy Show Bike,’ embodies this interactivity by inviting participants to light up a neon display through the act of pedaling. As visitors continue to cycle, the typographic installation changes color and displays various messages, each designed to motivate and inspire. This ingenious blend of digital technology and physical activity not only fosters a connection between the artist and the audience but also instills a sense of achievement and satisfaction, effectively transmitting the artist’s intended emotions of happiness. In Grayson Perry’s documentary Rites of Passage, he witnessed funeral ceremonies in different parts of the world. And then, he talked about love and grief, he asked “When do we really die? Maybe we die when we are forgotten or we are not loved anymore.”
By evoking emotions to the audiences, artists can inspire change, challenge societal norms, and encourage empathy and understanding across diverse populations. By evoking emotions, artists bridge personal and collective experiences, fostering a sense of shared humanity. This emotional connection can make the audience feel seen, understood, and less alone in their experiences. When an audience engages with art that arouses emotions, it can also experience catharsis, leading to healing, personal growth, and psychological relief. Through emotional engagement, artists can also convey the complexities of the human condition and make their audiences reflect on their own lives, society, or the world at large. Therefore, I am convinced that the emotional impact and influence artists have remains one of their most potent abilities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chang-liu.me
- Instagram: poppypoppyliu
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chang-liu-779a6220b/
Image Credits
Xyler