Meet Siyan Camille Ji | Photographer & Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Siyan Camille Ji and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Siyan Camille, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think creativity was the most something that keeps me going forward. As a visual artist specializing in photography, my creative projects are deeply rooted in personal memories, experiences, and emotions. Throughout the creative process, maintaining sensitivity to myself and the environment is essential. This awareness of my surroundings allows me to perceive subtle changes in emotions, serving as a continuous wellspring of inspiration for my creative work. Feelings precede conscious thought, revealing themselves to me in an unfiltered form. My journey as an artist involves constructing a path to these emotions. I am constantly exploring internal feelings and memories by observing the external world, and through the medium of photography, I strive to visualize emotions into tangible forms. Photographs, akin to the use of words in poetry, serve as elements within a visual poem. In this poetic narrative, I strive to construct a fictional story based on memories and feelings associated with traveling through time and space—a mixture of emotions.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a contemporary Chinese artist residing in Los Angeles, California. I earned my BFA in Photography from CalArts and am currently pursuing an MFA at the University of Southern California. Coming from a photographic background, I view photographs as representations of the way memories function in our lives. My work aims to question the boundary of imagery and reality by engaging the materiality and dimensionality of photography. To embody the materiality of the immaterial, such as human emotions and memory, I adopt installation, collage, and modernist techniques—“expanded photography” effective in expressing the singular materiality of the paper medium.
The dimensionality of my works extends beyond the spatial composition of the visual; it encompasses the geographical mapping of the temporal—the transformation in materiality and methodology is a response to the aesthetic and spiritual drive to map the “memoryscape.” This term denotes a metaphorical landscape shaped by intersecting and parallel planes of memory.
As a sojourner, forager, and, most importantly, a geographer of this memoryscape, my goal is to consistently invite the audience into a space of relations. Through this space, I would like to internalize universal human emotions, seeking anchoring points for unordered memories within fluid relationships.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely guide them to the Art District in DTLA—a place where you can spend the entire day surrounded by art, enjoying food, and exploring unique stores. It’s a vibrant area with numerous galleries, including the USC graduate art gallery, where I’d be thrilled to guide my friend through my studio and the great work of my cohort. Additionally, there are several other notable galleries like Hauser & Wirth, Night Gallery, and Webber Gallery that would be perfect for those who have a keen interest in various art forms. It’s a diverse and enriching experience for anyone exploring the multifaceted world of art. Moreover, the Art District boasts an array of excellent restaurants and cafes, making it a delightful destination for a culinary adventure. Additionally, it’s a great place for shopping, offering a unique blend of shops and boutiques. Another spot is the Griffith Observatory. They offer guided tours inside the observatory, providing an absolutely beautiful opportunity to explore and learn more about astronomy and science. Outside of the observatory, the view of the city is breathtaking, making it a memorable and visually stunning experience for anyone visiting. Additionally, I would consider Balboa Lake. The park offers a peaceful escape from the city, and It’s a tranquil spot to enjoy a leisurely walk and paddleboat ride.
I would also take them to LACMA and Getty Museum, where we can see the great pieces of art from all different periods. The Huntington Garden in Pasadena is another great choice. This botanical garden features diverse landscapes and gardens, and a rich collection of plant life.
In addition to all the spots mentioned above, I would also take my friend to watch the sunset by the beach together. I think that will be a relaxing and meditative experience in travel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would love to shoutout to my parents. They have been very supportive of every decision I’ve made, and their understanding and companionship mean a lot to me. Even though they don’t work in the art field, they take the time to learn about art because of my interest and work. Their support has been invaluable in my journey.

Another influence to my practice is Hiroshi Sugimoto’s book “Until the Moss Grow”. It has opened a door for me to profound connections between individual memories and collective history. The book unveils his reflections on collective memories and their relationship to the broader narratives in the river of human history. These memories and perspectives continue to be passed down from multiple levels to the present.
The book has also reshaped my perspective on traditional documentary photography. Sugimoto’s work is not just an objective documentation of reality, but a methodology of looking at collective experience from a universal perspective and a poetic interpretation of life. He metaphorically describes life as a long exposure, suggesting that human eyes are like cameras capturing a photograph with life-long exposure. Through this metaphor, he links human experience to a vast and profound photograph, where each moment is a subtle exposure contributing to the meaning of existence.
This perspective has inspired me to reconsider the essence of photography, moving beyond simple visual capture. Each photograph has a deep connection with a specific time and space, emphasizing the intricate relationship between photography, time, and existence.

Website: siyanjistudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/camillejsy?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Image Credits
Exhibition documentation by Chris Hanke