Today we’d like to introduce you to Francis Cai
Hi Francis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love of contradictions shapes my story-between urban and wilderness, Klein blue and burgundy red, the individual versus the collective. Growing up in Shanghai, I was immersed in a fast-evolving metropolis. But amidst that chaos, I was drawn to quieter moments: the fading light on a skyline, the texture of worn concrete, the fleeting expressions of strangers. My artistic journey began with these almost-missed details.
When I first picked up a camera, it wasn’t about making art-it was about preserving those moments before they disappeared. Over time, this instinct became an obsession, pushing me to look beyond aesthetics and into storytelling. I wanted to unravel the nuances of everyday life, societal shifts, and cultural expressions. These led me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design and a Master of Moving Image at the University of Sydney, where my perspective expanded in ways I never expected.
The pandemic marked a pivotal shift. Isolation forced me to turn my lens inward, exploring absence, resilience, and the tension between the physical and the increasingly virtual world. I began integrating XR and AI into my practice, blending traditional motifs with digital experimentation. This period gave rise to series like “Bird in the Cage: Shadowlands”, “the Daylight Moon” and the creation of my 360-degree immersive short film, “Sinking into the Afterglow”, which won Best VR Film at the Roma Short Film Festival.
My path hasn’t been defined by a singular breakthrough but by a series of small, pivotal moments: ruining my first roll of film, scrapping entire edits at 3am, standing in a freezing New York winter waiting for the perfect shot. These experiences taught me patience, persistence, and the beauty of imperfection.
Through it all, I’ve held onto one belief: art can bridge the inexpressible. It reaches beyond words, across time and space, connecting us in ways we can feel but never fully explain. That pursuit keeps me moving forward.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The creative path is rarely smooth, and my journey is no exception. Every challenge has shaped my work and my perspective as an artist. One of my biggest struggles was finding my artistic voice.
Growing up navigating different cultures, I often felt like I existed “in-between”, neither fully belonging to one place nor another. Over time, I realized that this sense of fluidity wasn’t a limitation but a unique perspective. Embracing that duality became the foundation of my work, though translating it into a visual language that resonates universally wasn’t always easy.
Another challenge was working with analog photography, a medium central to my process. Film photography is unforgiving and expensive; there is no instant feedback, and mistakes are costly. There were countless times I ruined an entire roll during processing or had to rethink a concept altogether. But film photography taught me patience and discipline and created distinctive looks and thrills of anticipation unmatched by its digital counterpart.
Financial and logistical hurdles have also been real. As a young artist, balancing sustainability with creative integrity is an ongoing challenge. Fortunately, I have had the support of generous sponsors, collectors, and talented collaborators like Dr. Lo, as well as open-minded parents who have always encouraged my vision. Their support allowed me to seize transformative opportunities, including my artist residencies in New York City and Paris. These experiences reinforced my belief in the power of teamwork. Artistic journeys can be solitary, but collaboration elevates individual ideas into something more significant.
Through all the ups and downs, what keeps me going is the belief that art is a bridge connecting us across time, place, and experience. The road may not be smooth, but the struggles make the journey worth it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a fine art photographer and XR film director specializing in surreal landscapes and psychogeography. My work explores the intersections of memory, identity, and the emotional connections we form with physical spaces. I often use a mix of analog and digital techniques to create visuals that feel nostalgic and contemporary. My recent series, “Avalon: A Moment in Nowhere”, reimagines Americana through a surreal, introspective lens and will be showcased at The Shop Gallery in Sydney this March.
My proudest achievements have been exhibiting my work internationally in NYC, Beijing, Zhenjiang, Sydney and Auckland and seeing how it resonates across different cultures. Co-founding Studio 13 Sydney with a brilliant female photographer, Dr Zinnia Lo, was another milestone—it’s an inclusive multimedia studio where we push the boundaries of visual arts through collaboration and experimentation. Studio 13 Sydney is also a placement institution for the University of Sydney, nurturing the next generation of visual artists.
A standout exhibition for Studio 13 Sydney was “Flux & Restless Pegasus,” a double-feature fine art photography exhibition with Dr Zinnia Lo and myself at the Melbourne City Library earlier this year.
My ability to blend deeply personal narratives with universal themes sets my art apart. Having grown up in Shanghai, studied in New Zealand and Australia, and exhibited globally, my perspective is inherently multicultural, which gives my work a unique emotional depth. I also embrace contradictions—permanence and change, humor and mystery, nostalgia and futurism-which keep my visual storytelling dynamic and evocative.
At its core, my work is about storytelling—capturing the fleeting beauty of a moment and inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences. My goal is to create pieces that feel both timeless and deeply personal, sparking curiosity and introspection.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Authenticity. What matters most is staying true to my voice and creating work that connects on a profoundly human level. In a constantly shifting world, authenticity keeps me grounded and reminds me why I create in the first place. Whether it’s exploring identity, memory, or the fleeting beauty of a moment, my goal is to forge emotional connections-even with those whose experiences differ from mine.
Why? Because I believe art has the power to transcend barriers—cultural, temporal, and even emotional. It’s one of the few ways to share unspoken truths and make others feel seen, heard, and understood. In my own life, art has always been a way to process change and find meaning in the chaos. That’s why I’m drawn to creating work that invites introspection and opens up a dialogue rather than providing all the answers.
For me, the creative journey holds as much meaning as its destination. Through experimentation, failure, and discovery have taught me more about myself and the world than any finished work ever could. It is about staying curious, embracing uncertainties, and allowing art to be a continuous dialogue rather than a fixed answer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.franciscai.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cai_francis/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cai-francis99
- Other: https://studio-13.org
Image Credits
Dr Zinnia Lo, Shilan Zhang, Charlotte Huang, Rachel Lai
