Meet Jingyi ZHENG

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jingyi ZHENG. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jingyi below.

Jingyi, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I keep my creativity alive by continuously engaging with spaces and life forms that exist at the margins of our cities. During my residency in Chengdu, for example, I chose an abandoned real estate sales center as my site of research. What fascinated me was not its human history, but how wild plants had quietly transformed the space into a miniature forest. Observing these plants—how they adapt, root, and survive in overlooked places—expanded my understanding of creativity itself.

Rather than waiting for sudden inspiration, I treat creativity as a long-term practice of listening, observing, and documenting. I use methods such as VR scanning, digital archiving, and speculative storytelling to preserve and reimagine these fragile ecologies. This process allows me to stay curious and open to the unseen narratives of non-human life.

Creativity for me is not only about producing artworks but also about remaining attentive to change, embracing uncertainty, and finding meaning in what others may disregard. By immersing myself in forgotten or soon-to-be-erased spaces, I ensure that my creative practice keeps evolving—much like the wild plants I study, which persist and adapt despite constant transformation.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a contemporary artist whose practice explores the complex relationships between humans and non-human life forms, with a particular focus on urban ecology, spatial transformation, and digital preservation. My work often begins in overlooked or abandoned urban spaces—such as a deserted real estate sales center in Chengdu—where wild plants reclaim forgotten land. By documenting these fragile ecologies through installation, video, VR scanning, and artist’s books, I create new ways of thinking about how non-human life adapts, survives, and sometimes disappears in rapidly changing environments.

What excites me most about my practice is the possibility of preserving and reimagining non-human habitats through digital technology and speculative storytelling. My ongoing series The Others has scanned and archived plants from abandoned sites, allowing them to persist virtually even after their physical erasure. This approach invites audiences to reconsider their relationship with urban nature and challenges anthropocentric views of habitation.

In 2024, I presented two solo exhibitions—Exit in the Wind at the Galaxy Museum of Contemporary Art (Chongqing) and Stupid Us and Them at C-PLATFORM (Xiamen)—both of which extended my inquiry into the resilience of marginal plants. Looking ahead, in 2026 I will continue this research during a residency in the Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang, studying survival strategies of non-human life in extreme climates.

My story is not only about creating artworks but also about giving visibility to what is often overlooked. Just as wild plants adapt and persist, my practice grows by listening, documenting, and imagining new forms of coexistence between humans and the non-human world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, three qualities and areas of knowledge have been most impactful in my journey as an artist:
1. Observation and Attentiveness
My practice relies on noticing what is often overlooked—plants growing in cracks, abandoned spaces, or fragile ecologies. For those starting out, I encourage cultivating patience and learning to observe deeply. Creativity often begins not with grand gestures, but with paying attention to small details.
2. Interdisciplinary Curiosity
Engaging with ecology, technology, and philosophy has allowed me to expand my practice beyond traditional art forms. I recommend embracing knowledge from other fields—science, urban studies, or digital tools—as they can offer new lenses through which to see and create.
3. Resilience and Adaptability
Just like the plants I study, an artist’s path requires persistence in uncertain environments. Projects take time, directions may shift, and external challenges—such as societal expectations—are inevitable. My advice is to treat change not as an obstacle but as part of the creative process.

For emerging artists, developing these qualities—attentive observation, openness to interdisciplinary learning, and resilience—will help sustain their creative journey and keep it evolving.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When I feel overwhelmed, I sleep. For me, sleep is like shutting down and rebooting the creative engine—afterwards, everything runs smoother again.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: jingyi_jeanguy

Image Credits

All images courtesy of Jingyi Zheng