Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiayi Li
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up I was a kid surrounded by fairy tales, old legends, and traditional animated shows in China. I loved immersing myself in imagination and daydreaming by doodling and making crafts. I realized that imagination would be a special and powerful tool to help me understand the world as I grew up. In college, I chose to study Digital Arts, specializing in 3D Animation because, back then, I saw it as the perfect medium to tell stories without limits. Afterward, I enrolled in the Interactive Telecommunications Program at NYU Tisch, where I wanted to explore storytelling with other technologies and mediums like projection mapping, digital games, and live performance.
Through my work, I’m deeply inspired and influenced by themes of maternity, the bond between humans and nature, and the irrational aspects of society. My goal as an animator is to continue creating works that explore these themes, seeking to understand why these images captivate me and how they connect to human psychology and social structures.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Overall, I was fortunate to have access to educational resources and support in learning drawing and other art forms. Learning about art was never a struggle for me and I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to be able to pick up a pen and paper and do things outside of regular schoolwork. For a long period in my childhood, I struggled with social anxiety due to a prominent facial birthmark, which made me very self-conscious and sensitive when interacting with my peers. This experience led me to focus even more on spending time alone and expressing my thoughts through images. I’m grateful that it also shaped who I am today. While my family wasn’t initially supportive of my decision to attend art school or become an animator, I feel more than thankful that they now recognize my passion and talent in this area.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an animator and a storyteller. I like using digital images, films, and dynamic simulations to create virtual memories of people. So far, my work has primarily consisted of animated short films, including my recent senior project CAVITY, which depicts the recognition of death through the lens of a child’s dream. During my graduate studies at NYU ITP, I am expanding upon this vision by creating immersive experiences such as performances, first-person games, and plays that engage the audience’s senses in real-time.
Looking back at my past work, I believe what sets me apart as a storyteller who does animation is the intuitive and personal approach to visual language. Animation is an illusion of movement. So “illusionary” is the keyword in my work. When crafting the characters and scenes in my animations, I allow myself to utilize instinctive image associations, real-time sensory responses, and even meditation, rather than strictly following logic or linear timelines. Perhaps due to my inner desire to ‘prank’ my audience, I love to tap into people’s curiosity and evoke subtle resonances with a bit of humor and absurdity, often touching on themes like childhood traumas, daydreams, and shared emotional experiences.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One key lesson I’ve learned so far is that in both creative work and life, taking action can often eliminate unnecessary overthinking and worries. Once you start taking action, many challenges begin to resolve themselves, and the anxieties and concerns will no longer exist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://zaqikwi.cargo.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaqikwi/
Image Credits
Jiayi Li
