My work is like a dialogue between me and unseen powers, like alchemy.
For my art, there is a common theme most of the time: it is using the things we can see to search for the world we cannot see.
Only individual creativity can bring about real social development.
Everyone has their moments of solitude, difficulties, and vulnerability.
Using gunpowder as a medium became a way to liberate myself.
Art should not be a tool of politics, but sometimes art can help make the political climate more open and help society become more free.
When I was young, I didn't want to do traditional painting and calligraphy. I deliberately wanted to separate from my father so I could feel I existed myself.
In my own art, I try to use my personal voice and effort to enable some Chinese people to see the possibilities of another kind of China. A more open China.
Temporality and the transformation of energy are two very important aspects in my work.
One reason I chose gunpowder is that I had the good luck in my environment to be exposed to gunpowder. The other reason is I was always looking for a visual language that goes beyond the boundary of nations, and so I found gunpowder.
Any work that is born out of natural serendipity or reverts to simpler times is poignant for people - in any era.
I was growing up in a society that exerted a lot of control on people, and from both my personality and the social condition, I found gunpowder gradually as a very suitable medium for exploration.
When I was young, the constraints of Chinese society and my personal timid and cautious nature both drove me to seek a means to go against control. Gunpowder has an inherent uncertainty and uncontrollability and is an important means for me to relieve myself of constraint.
I do believe every artwork has its own charisma. Sometimes it's different from what I expect. When a work is finished, it exudes its own charisma and lives its life independently.
I lived in Japan for eight years before moving to New York, but I was looking forward to a place like America to change my opinion on things and force me to come up with new perspectives.
Anyone can be seduced by the possession of power and influence.
Only an idiot would open an exhibition saying, 'Look at my awesome work.'
I'm always oscillating between if I should sprinkle more gunpowder or less. But if I put too much gunpowder, there may be holes throughout the silk. If not enough, the power and energy would not be shown.
For an artist, a good place to be is you have some kind of influence and power to get things done, but in your essence you remain a nomad or a soldier facing a difficulty to be overcome.
Many artists, when they are creating art, are searching for a vehicle that can manifest a feeling they have inside of themselves.
