We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chi Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chi 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?

Among all my projects, I would say The Youth Project – Skincare Facial Masks is the most meaningful project I have worked on, as it embodies a lifelong commitment to promoting self-love and challenging the beauty standards issue I encountered.

The idea of this project emerged in 2016 when I first started my career as an art educator. Teaching high school students, especially when you’re diving into AP, IB, and A-level programs without prior experience, can be a real challenge. As a result, I committed a lot of time to learn everything from the beginning. Such as, how to engage with students to integrate the Western art course into the Chinese curriculum. Despite the long hours of working and class preparation, I still devoted one hour or two every night to my night skincare routine. Over time, this routine becomes a daily ritual for me. Also, I remembered there were nights I was so tired that I forgot I had a mask on until 3 the next day morning!

And it hit me at that moment, and I asked myself: Why was I putting myself through this? I’m sure I can cut down my time for the skincare routine, and use the time to sleep. Why did I feel it was necessary to do this every night? The drills of aging and the social standard of “bái yòu shòu”, means pale skin, a youthful and lean appearance translated from Chinese. But as I looked around, I realized it wasn’t just me, was everyone, my friends, my colleagues, and even my students followed this standard as well. My students, especially the teenage girls were skipping meals, trying to fit into this society created by the social media influencers.

That’s when this project was born. I hope this project has a voice from the first perspective of an Asian female artist, the message is about self-love and challenging the beauty standards that society created for all the women out there. I’d chat with my students about it, especially with the girls, “Body Shame” is one of the most popular themes they pick for their art projects. I told them it’s okay to be themselves, to love themselves just the way they are. Self-care isn’t about conforming, it’s about embracing who you are, flaws and all.

This project itself has two parts. Part one is the Documentary on Skincare Facial Masks, which I started collecting in 2021. It’s a visual journal documenting the types of facial masks I used over the years. And then there’s part two – The Used Skincare Facial Masks. I’ve been collecting these since 2018, now it’s about 2000 of them stacked up. I plan to turn them into a self-portrait sculpture for the next step.

Chi , 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’m a visual artist, art educator, and art professional formerly based in New York, now work and live in Beijing and Shanghai, China.

My artistic practice is deeply rooted in exploring the intersection of personal narratives and broader social issues, utilizing various mediums such as installations, paintings, drawings, and documentary work. My focus on personal stories within the diverse social context of today’s societies provides perspective to my art. The example of The Youth Project – Skincare Facial Masks illustrates my engagement with societal standards of beauty, while the New York City Air Project explores environmental concerns like air pollution. Works like Autumn Equinox and Grain in Ear express my belief in the therapeutic power of art, offering healing experiences and perhaps a respite from the chaos of the world. With everything going on in the world, such as wars, disease, earthquakes, environmental issues, etc. I’m trying to seek inner peace and the elegance of simplicity through my work. For both myself and my audiences, I hope to engage in meaningful conversations and connections that extend beyond the boundaries of the artwork itself.

Besides my art practice, I’ve participated in various art-related fields and independent art projects. I’m also an art educator with experience teaching students of all ages in a variety of studio, classroom, and museum settings, including programs for adults, young art professionals, and college and high school students.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I’m a firm believer in the power of art as a language. Throughout history, art has served as a profound reflection of the culture and society of its time. It captures the essence of human experiences and communicates emotions and ideas in ways that words often cannot.

And yes, to answer your question, in my creative journey, my goal or mission is to document the era we live in today. While I may not rely on current technology, I am driven by the desire to capture the essence of contemporary life, explore its complexities, and express its beauty and challenges through my art. By doing so, I hope to create a lasting record that future generations can look back on to gain some insights into our time.

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

I believe one of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is the connections created between the artist and the audience. Through my work, I aim to raise awareness of social issues, provoke thought, and challenge preconceptions, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own lives and experiences. As I’ve expressed before, my aspiration is to initiate meaningful conversations and foster connections that extend beyond the confines of the artwork, enriching both myself and my audience within the broader context of our society.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chizhangart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chizhang.studio/

Image Credits
Yukai Chen, Qiaosen Yang, Chang Niu, Andrew Schwartz