Fangjie Liu

• Malfunction
• Due to prolonged illness, I was unable to observe external subjects. Instead, I studied my own body’s subtle changes, translating sensations into visual language within my sketchbook.

• During my illness, the pain and subtle tremors in my throat and teeth became the focal point of my contemplation. Unable to explore the external world, I turned inward, examining these subtle shifts in bodily sensation and emotional fluctuations. Using watercolour, ink, and coloured ballpoint pens, I employed a layered drawing technique to capture the body’s rhythms and instabilities, transforming the tremors of my teeth and the state of my mouth into multi-layered visual records. Through repeated layering and transformation of these forms, the paintings emerged. I transform these into print-like compositions, experimenting with colour, transparency, and visual rhythm. This process serves both as personal documentation and as an exploration of how materiality and repetition can visualise inner discomfort. Through layering and distortion, I convert bodily fragility into patterns suggesting tremors, anxiety, and metamorphosis, reflecting the intertwined realms of physical experience and emotional perception.

• The state of tension in the oral cavity during illness, a process of constriction and disorder

• OBSERVE
• I stitch and paint my observations with mixed materials, transforming small everyday details into layered visual and tactile experiences.

• Vertebrae morphology
• I layered spray-painted shapes of a twisted spine using silver, fluorescent, purple, and dark purple tones to express tension and transformation.

• Dancing balloons
• I explored the movement of balloons and plastic bags as they danced in the air, using crayons, watercolours, and coloured markers to express their fluid energy.

• I examined the shifting shapes of my cervical spine through painting, employing spray techniques to record its movement and reveal the physical tension embedded in my creative process.

• I used abundant silver and purple spray paint to explore my cervical spine’s forms while painting, documenting its shifting shapes and dynamic movements.

• Kitty
• encountered a long-haired cat by the roadside and captured its affectionate gesture using crayons and watercolours to explore warmth and emotional connection.

• Cat café
• I sketched the exterior of a cat café, using markers to capture its charming courtyard and the scene’s tranquil beauty through quick visual observation.

• British streets
• After a group visit, I recreated the vibrant UK street scene at home using watercolours, coloured pens, and layered food packaging to explore composition and rhythm.

• Flower
• I observed and painted flowers in the garden using varied watercolours and pearlescent tones, experimenting with blowing techniques to express organic form and movement.

• Mountain
• After arriving in the UK, I felt buried under piles of clothes. I used diverse painting materials to record and explore the tactile textures and emotional resonance of garments.