We were lucky to catch up with Nianxin Li recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Nianxin, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I think being a creator is the happiest thing in the world. Sometimes I feel that if I had a regular job, my mindset would be completely different. As a creator, I believe it’s important to stay alert to experiences and to genuinely perceive the world every day, just like a newborn.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My practice begins with feelings of disconnection between the purpose and methods of my early education and family life. My paintings discusses the possibility of various parts actively or passively staying in the same space, and questions the traditional framework of prioritizing familial relationships. The inspiration comes from my personal exploration of family gender roles and societal norms. Boundaries and emotional attachments feel abstracted and covered by colorful shapes. By recounting my family upbringing, I interpret this act in colors that make me feel intimacy and love.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, it’s an expansion of the boundaries of my soul. Creation is a wonderful way to experience life, like a life experience accelerator. We must make an effort to truly experience, live, and feel in order to let our work manifest through our own bodies. For me, its value lies in the continuous cycle of trying, reaping, feeling, and then letting go.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes！！！I feel that Kafka’s ‘The Castle’ has influenced me, and I could even say it has altered my worldview. Suddenly, I found that the emotions and experiences in life that are hard to put into words were expressed by him. That sense of disconnection suddenly had a name, and it’s called absurdity. Many of my paintings continue to narrate these feelings I believe are impossible to express in words.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nianxinli.com
• Instagram: studio_linianxxik

Image Credits
Nianxin’s paintings