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Qiuwen Li is an assistant professor of graphic design in the Department of Art and Art History at Santa Clara University in CA, U.S. She also is the co-founder of emotionlab, a progressive research lab to create positive emotional experiences for people through innovative design approaches to human problems. Born in China, Qiuwen received her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from St. Cloud State University and received her MFA in Visual Studies from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. As a Chinese woman living in the U.S., Qiuwen is in an in-between position, which also brings a distinctive perspective for her thinking, being and making. In Qiuwen’s designs, graphic elements (shapes, color, pattern, type) are constructed, deconstructed and then reconstructed in order to create a richer experience and extend their meaning. Qiuwen Li’s design has been exhibited at the MCSU Art Gallery of the Faculty of Art (Lublin, Poland), Cecelia Coker Bell Gallery (SC, USA), Conkling Gallery (MN, USA), Salmon Gallery (AL, USA), Paramount Center for the Arts (MN, USA), Washington Pavilion Visual Arts Center (SD, USA) and CHEAP street poster art festival (Bologna, Italy). Qiuwen has been recognized with several awards during her career including Winner of Design and Design International Award (Paris, France), Winner of Creative Quarterly in both Fine Art and Graphic Design Category (New York, USA), 1st prize in LAG Festival Poster Competition (Katowice, Poland).
The Interview
At what point in your life did you know that you wanted to become an artist? Did the realization emerge slowly?
I was fond of drawing since my childhood. Drawing was my hobby and passion, but I didn't know how it would relate to my future study, career and life. The realization emerged slowly. During my undergraduate study, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My life was shaped by many great teachers and I also want to make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. I became more confident that art and teaching are what I want to do for the rest of my life after the first year in graduate school. My graduate study helped me learn methods about how to design my life, my environment, and myself as an artist and maker. I felt blessed that I have had the opportunity to live my passion and turns it into profession.
How did you evolve your style and favorite mediums?
Being a graphic designer doesn’t limit me to two-dimensional print work or digital design for screens. I always try new things and maintain a playful approach to unfamiliar software and techniques in order to find different forms of visual expression. I enjoy the making process, the more I make, the more I know how to make. Through the making process and hundred failures, I gradually discover my art and design style.
What are your time management techniques? Do you have regular working hours...or favorite times to work?
My favorite research times are Fridays and summer mornings when the school ends. What works best for me in terms of time management is consistency. During school year, I set a specific time in a day to work on my research in studio space.
Do you work on more than one piece at a time, or primarily just on one?
Generally, more than one piece at a time. In my process, multiple ideas coexisted simultaneously, and I like exploring many solutions and a variety of answers in the early stage. I also enjoy working on teams with people from different backgrounds. So, I usually work on more than one project at a time.
What would you say is your biggest influence--that which keeps you working, regardless of all else, your most steadfast motivation?
Curiosity! Art for me is a type of life attitude and it expands my horizons. Instead of working for clients, most of my current work are self-projects. As a visual artist, I have a hunger to explore and know things and people around me and have desires to express my thoughts and opinions. The curiosity I have puts thoughts into action.
Does trying something new and not knowing the rules -- the boundary pushing -- create anxiety or excitement in you? (Or both?)
Both, but mainly excitement. Trying new things always bring uncertainty and may causes anxiety, self-doubt and other negative thoughts in the early stage. However, without it, I couldn’t know excitement.
Do you enjoy having the "duality of both chaos and control" or are you happiest with a set plan?
Personally, I enjoy having a set plan. But things aren’t exactly the way we planned and having the duality of both chaos and control are normal for me.
Do you have any projects or events forthcoming?
I’m currently working on a VR group project about emotional expression on social media. Our team is working on creating VR environment to analyzes Instagram photographic data to identify factors predictive of happiness from the Western and the Eastern cultures.
Additionally, my solo exhibition will be hosted in Korea in Feb 2022 and my work will be part of a group exhibition at College of the Sequoias in California from October 18 - December 2, 2022.
de·form
2020
Digital print
36”H x 24”W
2020
Digital print
36”H x 24”W
de·form
2020
Digital print
36”H x 24”W
2020
Digital print
36”H x 24”W
Biophilia
i2020
Digital print
28”H x 20”W
i2020
Digital print
28”H x 20”W
Biophilia
i2020
Digital print
28”H x 20”W
i2020
Digital print
28”H x 20”W
the old is the new new
2021
Digital print
10”H x 15”W
the old is the new new
2021
Digital print
10”H x 15”W
2021
Digital print
10”H x 15”W
Contact the artist directly:
Qiuwen Li
qiuwendesign@gmail.com
Website: www.qiuwenli.com
Instagram: qiuwenliiiiiii
Facebook: Qiuwen Li
Tumblr: https://qiuwenli.tumblr.com/
Qiuwen Li
qiuwendesign@gmail.com
Website: www.qiuwenli.com
Instagram: qiuwenliiiiiii
Facebook: Qiuwen Li
Tumblr: https://qiuwenli.tumblr.com/