Jia Jia is one of ArtConnect’s Artists to Watch '22

Jia Jia’s artistic practice has been influenced by my experience of living, studying and working between China and America. I am curious both about personal emotion, and about the larger factors at work in society and cultural contexts which influence individuals deeply. She is interested in how technological developments bring about synchronization and globalization in communication. Topics she explores and challenges the audience to experience in her work includes: What do we receive from the image world through diverse cultures? How do different media interact? How can we understand that truism that “seeing is believing” in a contemporary context, and how is that belief made real at the level of our bodies and senses?

ArtConnect asked the winning artists to share with us a glimpse into their creative life to get a sense of their personal inspiration and artistic process.

How did you get started as an artist?

A trip changed me from a designer to an artist. I was learning product design when I was a sophomore in college. We visited Jingdezhen in China for a field trip project. Jingdezhen is known for its ceramic history in the world. I was amazed by how dynamic, energetic and creative this city is. There are many talented young artists and designers gathered there. A lot of foreign artists reside there too. I got inspired by the art scene there and decided to be an artist.

How would you describe your artistic approach?

I’d like to check out the local stores, such as dollar tree, vintage store, supermarket, to get inspired. I let the visual language into my brain first. Just like having a hotpot, you choose a soup base first, then you put everything into the pot, like vegetables, lamp, shrimp… maybe you have an order but it doesn’t matter. Then I let the visual stuff boiling inside the pot, gradually starting to find the logic between things.

And how about what inspires you?

So many things can inspire me. But I am particularly interested in the odd combination of objects and translations with strange logic.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an artist?

I think artists question and critique their work and themselves a lot. As a young artist, sometimes I put too much attention on other people’s comment of my work, which is a bit distractive and unnecessary. I just want to tell myself: take your time and believe in yourself.

Describe a typical day in the studio/wherever you make your work.

I normally will have a good breakfast before I go to studio. Good food can always make me feel energetic to make art. Then I will grab a cup of coffee and sit in front of my plan book and sketch book. After I finish the coffee, I start to make visual objects based on my sketch. Things always go different directions through making. And new ideas come out of this process. Before I leave the studio and finish the day, I will take 30 mins to read to feel the peace in the studio.

Is there a medium, a process, or a technique that you haven't used in your work yet but would like to try out?

I'd like to try animation or VR in my work.

What are you currently working on? Or an upcoming project you want to mention?

I am currently working on an upcoming group show in SOIL Gallery, Seattle. I am making some “clay sausages” combined with shredded pages from the Oxford English Dictionary. And trying to install them on the stanchions.

How does it feel to be selected as an ArtConnect Artist to Watch?

As an emerging artist, this is a great opportunity for me and my work to get more exposure and support from the field. And it pushes me to work harder and be more confident in what I am doing.

See more of Jia’s work

ArtConnect Profile | Website | Instagram