"My artwork mainly uses symbols and metaphors to place installation concepts into paintings."
Read a Q&A with Liu Yanchi
Talk to us about your work featured here. What are the main themes and ideas you explore in it?
The work l've chosen is themed around mythological fqures.
The theme l explore is "The Binding of Prometheus". it aims to illustrate an instinct of human nature, the confrontation between justice and evil, and the return to divinity of the obiect - self, the ego, and the super - ego.
Describe your creative process.
In my creative process, lfrstestablish the main - body imageSecondly.determine the overalcomposition of the pictureThen.break it down, further analyze it indetail, and finally carry out a meticulous integration.Of course. A work is alreadypreset within my specific frameworkbefore it takes shape. l usually do this.usually use realistic lanauageto interpret an abstract concept.Through long -term practice, l have developed my own habitual painting language and technica experience.Thepsychological expectation is also reasonable.
What are the main influences and inspirations behind your art?

My art is mainly influenced by Western modernism and postmodernism. The inspiration primarily comes from humanistic ideas and life experiences. There are some artists who have deeply influenced me, such as Picasso, Dalí, and Michelangelo. For example, Picasso's series of metamorphosis paintings of bulls, Dalí's imagination, and the vast composition of Michelangelo's The Last Judgment, which demonstrates superhuman willpower.
What is unique about your art? What do you consider the strongest aspect of your work?
My artworks are full of imagination and artistic tension, incorporating individualistic techniques and a strong ability to integrate various influences. The originality and imagination of my works stem from the incorporation of installation-art concepts. I usually work with materials for easel paintings and paper-based works.
What message or emotion do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
I hope my art can achieve the release of subconscious instincts or repressed emotions. I also hope that viewers will feel emotionally soothed and that their souls will be healed.
What is the biggest challenge for an artist? What is the hardest part of your job?
Breaking through old systemic models is essential. It is about integrating new concepts. I see it as a way of combating mental entropy.
What is the most rewarding part of being an artist?
I believe it is the ability to think independently, combined with self-discipline in solitude and an appreciation for violent aesthetics.
How do you balance tradition and innovation in your practice?
It specifically depends on the context at that time—setting limits while making breakthroughs. I mainly use techniques such as grafting, juxtaposition, selection, alienation, and other variation methods to create visual tension.
What does good art mean to you? What would you say makes a piece of art great?
Art serves as both the psychologist and musician of an era. It enhances self-cultivation and deepens one's understanding of the world, injecting soul and new ideas into creative work.
What is the role of the artist today?
I believe an artist is a spiritual practitioner who spreads positive energy. Through artistic transformation, we personify the world, breathe new vitality into lifeless things, and achieve a transformation from humanity to divinity. Art should discard the false facade distorted by commercial interests and maintain both artistic independence and the depth of the soul. In today's era of information diversity, artists should utilize various media and new technical means to create and engage with concepts in a more intuitive way.