Meet Chenjie Zhang | Landscape Designer & Environmental Artists

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

Hi Chenjie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My profound passion for nature is the driving force behind my aspiration to become an environment artist. Since a young age, I’ve been deeply involved in studying and creating art with an Eastern aesthetic and perspective. After being exposed to Western education, I’ve become increasingly fascinated with the idea of integrating these influences and finding a harmonious balance between them.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a professional landscape designer, I’ve had the opportunity to represent numerous built and proposed environments in my projects. This practice, predominantly focused on urban settings, has significantly enhanced the legibility and precision of my representations since I began working in Los Angeles two years ago. I’m immensely proud of this growth, and I owe thanks to RELM for providing me with such a remarkable platform.

During my personal time, I’ve been exploring various techniques for representing the environment. In addition to Chinese painting, which I mentioned in the previous interview, I’ve experimented with digital painting using Procreate, acrylics, and oils. Through this exploration, I’ve discovered intriguing connections and paradoxes between different representation methods. As previously discussed, my passion lies in finding the balance between Eastern and Western philosophies and aesthetics.

This year, my aim is to refine my style, techniques, and create a series of environmental art that reflects my experiences and insights into natural systems. Ultimately, my goal in the coming years is to create environments, whether it’s a single scene or an entire world, based on my journey and knowledge of the natural world.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d definitely use “La La Land” as my travel guidebook. Every scene showcases amazing places to visit. I’d spend more time exploring the different beaches in West LA, including the iconic Santa Monica Pier, where I could also enjoy some delicious food. Blue Plate Taco offers excellent Mexican cuisine. Personally, I find Griffith Park Trail to be a lovely spot for an easy hike, with stunning views of the Hollywood Hills and the chance to admire the night sky at Griffith Observatory. Grand Central Market is a fantastic dining destination with a wide variety of cuisines near downtown. Additionally, Orange County boasts many picturesque beaches, making them my favorite spots along the West Coast.

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?
Firstly, I want to express my gratitude to my family, especially my grandfather. In his retirement, he embraced amateur painting and carpentry. His creative passion, adventurous spirit, dedication, and focus deeply influenced me as a child. Whether learning Chinese painting together, watching him craft wooden furniture, or exploring the natural world and catching insects during our travels, these experiences shaped my early years. My family’s unwavering support has been a constant during my journey, providing security and encouragement during uncertain times while living alone in LA.

Secondly, I extend my thanks to all the instructors and professors at the Landscape Architecture Department of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). RISD provided a foundation of solid, fundamental, and systematic art and design study, cultivating my skills as a talented and professional landscape designer. Beyond that, Tiago Torres-Campos taught me the importance of making quick decisions, time efficiency, understanding iterative processes, and creating systems instead of random objects. Colgate Searle, a founding professor of the MLA program, delved deep into understanding the natural landscape, teaching geology, geography, pedology, and the dynamics of natural landscapes as systems. Elizabeth Dean Hermann’s talent, wisdom, and compassion for all living creatures instilled in me the responsibility of a designer to uphold humanism, kindness, and respect for the environment. She encouraged a deep dive into environmental history, culture, and potential, reminding me to “trust the process” in both design and life.

Thirdly, I am grateful for the amazing peers I’ve encountered over the years. Chao Li, two years ahead of me, stands out as one of the most talented landscape designers I’ve met, offering insightful advice that has profoundly impacted my career. Zhouqian Guo, a year ahead of me, is a disciplined individual with whom I share common interests; his rationality has guided me through moments of uncertainty. Yumeng Yan, a classmate, has been a mentor and inspiration, exemplifying professionalism and perseverance in creating humane and egalitarian environments. Lastly, Jingjing’s passion for creating visually stunning environments with 3D software sparked my interest in representing existing environments and crafting imaginary ones, setting me on the path to become an environment artist. ‘Why not utilize digital tools and artistic techniques to bring imagined worlds to life?’ This question echoes in my head everyday.

Instagram: instagram.com/alfred_zcj

Image Credits
All photo credit to Chenjie Zhang (Myself)