Meet Qinlin Yang | Artist & Art Studio Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Qinlin Yang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Qinlin, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
In 2020, I arrived in the UK. After experiencing constant changes in living environments and the diverse differences between cultures, I began to focus on the mental health status of immigrants. During my postgraduate studies, I followed this direction and engaged in visual research-based art practice. Starting from the emotional changes during isolation, I created an artist book named “Intouchable Days”combining Linoprint and letterpress, focusing on the emotional fluctuations during the pandemic isolation.

For my graduation project, I created a series of works named “Loneliness” exploring the deep feelings of entering an unfamiliar environment through the perspective of loneliness. This work was shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards. After graduation, I continued to create a series of prints set against the backdrop of urban spaces in London, expressing the sense of alienation between immigrants and the city. This series named “Detachment” won the Merit Award at the 3×3 Illustration Award and was selected for multiple exhibitions, such as the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, the International Original Print Exhibition, and the Royal Society of British Artists Bicentennial Exhibition.

In 2023 and 2024, I participated in the artist residency program at Künstlerstadt Kalbe in Germany twice, where I communicated and collaborated with artists from various fields. Through drawing and installation art, I explored the trace of population loss in remote areas caused by urban siphoning effects due to immigration.

While creating art, I, along with my classmates Quirina Wang and Vicky Yang, founded 044 Art Studio. As an artist-founded platform, it continuously supports the careers of emerging artists. We also constantly encounter outstanding artists from around the world.

In my ongoing artistic practice, art has become an indispensable and most important part of my life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am proud of two aspects.

1. In terms of my personal artistic practice, the fact that my work is starting to be remembered by people is what makes me the proudest. This means that the uniqueness of my art is being recognized, and I have found a systematic creative language through continuous experimentation. This is the original intention of my art: to analyze personal identity and seek authenticity amid change and chaos. Consequently, this has also brought me many related opportunities, such as awards, exhibitions, and residencies.

2. In the process of running the art studio, I have met artists from around the world. We have grown together through the artistic creation process and have encouraged each other to persevere. Having such a platform that allows me to help emerging artists makes me feel proud.

Today’s achievements have not come easily for me.

My greatest challenge has been establishing connections in a completely unfamiliar environment. As an international student, when I first arrived in the UK, I didn’t know anyone here, and I had to start everything from zero. However, I see this as a new opportunity. I finally have the chance to settle down and do what I want, such as becoming an artist and restarting my life in this new country.

I believe the most important thing I’ve learned is to let go of perfectionism. Many things won’t be perfectly ready and waiting for me. In most cases, I have to learn to make peace with imperfection and continue to push projects forward even when things are not ideal.

Secondly, when an opportunity presents itself, seize it. You never know when or where you might be noticed by someone or an institution you admire. So when an opportunity comes, I don’t dwell on whether it’s a small opportunity or weigh the pros and cons; I act immediately.

Lastly, a good time management can truly change everything. While working part-time to support myself, I used my breaks, commute time, and days off to maintain my art career. It turned out that in these fragmented periods, my artistic creation and studio operations made significant progress.

I hope my work can be seen by more people. At the end of this year, I will participate in the residency program at East London Printmakers. During this time, I will create a series of works focused on the cherished objects of the East Asian immigrant community I represent. I will share my residency experiences and the artworks.

Additionally, I hope more people will become aware of 044 Art Studio. I wish for more outstanding emerging artists to gain greater recognition through our platform.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I really like the areas around Shoreditch, Hoxton, and Old Street. There are many interesting bookstores, such as RECORD 28 BOOKS and Bookartbookshop. There are also intriguing galleries like Hales Gallery, Kate MacGarry Gallery, and Kupfer. Additionally, the coffee is great at places like FWD: Coffee and Gecko Coffee.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people I want to thank: my family, teachers, friends, and the countless individuals who have helped me along the way. For example, my printmaking mentor, Jake Garfield, who set an excellent example of what an outstanding artist should be, and the platform CuratorSpace, which helped launch my art career.

Among all, I am most grateful to my MA tutor at Anglia Ruskin University, Nanette Hoogslag. She is an exceptional tutor, the best educator I have ever encountered. She helped me develop the logical thinking skills necessary for artistic research. Moreover, she made me realize that as an artist, I don’t have to conform to everything; instead, I should find my own research direction and follow my own path.

Website: https://qinlinyang.net

Instagram: _qinlinyang_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qinlinyang/

Other: 044 art studio website: 044artstudio.com

Image Credits
Photographer of Personal Photo: Xiaoyu Wu
Photographer of additional photos: Qinlin Yang
Photographer of Qinlin sit on the floor in additional photos: Jennifer Eckert