We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xinyi Qin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Xinyi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I love being an artist. There’s no need to follow a rigid routine—you can simply go with the flow of your mood. There are no strict deadlines or anyone dictating what you must do. The greatest part of being an artist, compared to having a regular job, is the complete freedom it offers. However, this freedom can sometimes come with its own anxieties, like the lack of stability that a traditional job might provide. Despite that, I’ve never once regretted choosing the artist’s path.
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 name is Xinyi Qin, born in Shenzhen, China, and now lives in Hong Kong. I received a BFA degree from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MA degree in Painting from University of the Arts London. I am an artist who primarily works with oil, and sometimes I also make ceramic sculptures. My works have participated in various international exhibitions, such as The 4th Chongqing Oil Painting Biennale Exhibition in China (2024), Where We’re Calling From group exhibition at Copeland Gallery in London (2024), UAL MA Show in London (2024), The Secret Garden group exhibition curated by 11 Contemporary Art Center in China (2024), European Contemporary Art Exhibition in Shenzhen (2023), and group show at Melissa Morgan Gallery in California.
Using plants as a central medium, my work explores the concept of “roots” and my personal experience of “rootlessness”—a feeling of detachment from my own traditional cultural anchors that leaves me ungrounded both physically and mentally. Having lived abroad from a young age as an international student, this disconnection has profoundly shaped my sense of belonging and cultural identity. For me, “roots” extend beyond just a physical place; they also symbolize the stability and clarity about the future that provide a sense of security and the hope of belonging somewhere.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom it offers. As an artist, I have the freedom to create on my own terms, to follow my intuition, and to experiment with different mediums and forms of expression. This lack of rigid structure allows me to immerse myself in the creative process. It’s this artistic freedom that makes the journey deeply fulfilling.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
There was a lot of hype and speculation in the NFT market, which could overshadow genuine artistic value. But the whole NFTs market is going downhill currently. Personally, I see NFTs as a tool with potential, especially for artists exploring digital mediums, but it’s important to approach them with thoughtfulness, especially around sustainability and long-term value.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: xinyii.qin
Image Credits
No credits needed to be clarified.