Yiru Wang

Year of birth: 1999 
Where do you live: London
Describe your art in three words: Innovative, introspective, transformative
Your discipline: Visual Arts and Digital Media
Website | Instagram

What first inspired you to blend material design with new technologies in your art?

What first inspired me to blend material design with new technologies in my art was my constant curiosity about the boundaries between art and technology. Historically, when photography was invented, it sparked debates about the future and relevance of painting. Yet, I’ve always seen these mediums not as opposing forces but as complementary tools in the evolution of artistic expression.

To me, new technologies are not threats to traditional art forms but opportunities to expand the vocabulary of artistic expression. They allow us to convey ideas and emotions in ways that were previously unimaginable. The question lies not in the technology itself, but in how the artist uses it to communicate more effectively and authentically.

This perspective drives my practice. By integrating new tools like 3D printing, digital manipulation, and biomaterials with traditional techniques, I aim to explore how technology can deepen artistic expression rather than diminish it. My work is an ongoing exploration of this synergy, seeking to dissolve perceived boundaries and demonstrate how innovation can enrich, rather than replace, artistic traditions.

Can you talk about the role of technology in your creative process? How do you see it influencing your future works?

Technology plays a transformative role in my creative process. It offers me entirely new experiences and possibilities, enabling me to push the boundaries of traditional artistic expression. However, working with technology isn’t simply about adopting new tools—it’s about learning to master and integrate them into my vision.

I see this relationship as a process of mutual learning and adaptation. Just as I train AI to understand and execute my creative intentions, I also allow it to challenge and expand my perspective. In a sense, we are taming each other: I guide the technology to serve my artistic goals, while it pushes me to think in new, unconventional ways.

Looking to the future, I believe technology will continue to play a central role in my work, particularly in exploring the intersection of humanity and machine. AI, 3D printing, and biomaterials, for example, offer endless opportunities to experiment with form, concept, and interactivity. Yet, my ultimate goal remains the same: to use these tools not as ends in themselves but as means to create art that resonates emotionally and intellectually.

Your works often push the boundaries between traditional and digital art forms. How do you approach this intersection in your projects?

My work often exists at the intersection of traditional and digital art, and I approach this space as a dialogue rather than a divide. For me, these two realms are not opposites but complementary forces that can inform and elevate one another. Traditional art forms provide a foundation rooted in tactile expression, history, and craft, while digital technologies offer tools to expand possibilities, innovate processes, and challenge preconceived boundaries.

In my projects, I aim to integrate these two worlds seamlessly, allowing them to interact and shape the final outcome. For example, I often begin with concepts inspired by traditional artistic methods—drawing, photography, or sculptural composition—but I then reimagine these ideas through digital manipulation, 3D printing, or the incorporation of bio-materials. This hybrid process allows me to explore questions of form, texture, and narrative in ways that neither medium could achieve alone.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that art is not constrained by its medium but by the artist’s imagination. By merging the tangible with the virtual, I aim to create works that are not only visually compelling but also provoke dialogue about the evolution of art itself. This intersection becomes a space of experimentation, where tradition meets innovation to push artistic boundaries and redefine what art can be in the digital age.

How has your experience participating in events like the Art Shopping art fair and New York Design Week influenced your artistic vision?

Participating in events like the Art Shopping art fair and New York Design Week has profoundly shaped my artistic vision, providing me with invaluable opportunities for growth, collaboration, and reflection. These events placed me in direct dialogue with a diverse range of artists, designers, and audiences, each bringing unique perspectives that challenged and enriched my understanding of art’s role in society.

At the Art Shopping art fair in Paris, I was struck by the way audiences engaged with my Day in Night series. Their interpretations, often shaped by their personal experiences, illuminated aspects of my work I hadn’t consciously considered. This dialogue reinforced my belief in art as a shared experience—one that evolves through the connection between creator and viewer.

New York Design Week, on the other hand, exposed me to cutting-edge design and multidisciplinary collaborations, inspiring me to think beyond the boundaries of traditional art. I witnessed how design and technology intersect in practical yet profoundly creative ways, prompting me to explore similar integrations in my own practice. This experience encouraged me to embrace bold experimentation, blending art, technology, and sustainability to create works that are both aesthetically striking and conceptually layered.

These events also instilled a sense of responsibility in me—to create art that resonates globally while remaining deeply personal. The cultural exchange and feedback I received reminded me of the power of art to connect and communicate across borders, motivating me to continually push my creative boundaries and explore universal themes through innovative approaches.

Can you tell us about your experience working with 3D printing and biomaterials, and how this reflects your environmental concerns?

My experience working with 3D printing and biomaterials has been deeply personal and transformative, driven by both my environmental concerns and my own life experiences. One of my most meaningful projects, On the Nose, embodies this connection. This work utilizes 3D printing, brainwave modeling, and biomaterials to address smell disorders caused by psychological factors. The project was inspired by my own struggle with a smell disorder—a condition that made me acutely aware of how sensory experiences shape our connection to the world.

As I delved deeper into research, I met many individuals facing similar challenges, each with their own unique stories of frustration and resilience. These encounters profoundly shifted my perspective, making me realize the responsibility I carry as an artist and designer. Art is not just about self-expression; it is also a tool to bridge gaps, to address overlooked issues, and to inspire hope.

This project also taught me to listen to nature. I came to understand that while we cannot always solve every physiological problem with technology alone, nature often holds the answers. By integrating biomaterials into my work, I discovered their potential not only for sustainability but also for fostering harmony between the human body and the environment. This approach reflects my deep commitment to ecological balance and the belief that technology should amplify nature’s wisdom, not replace it.

On the Nose was more than an artistic endeavor—it was a journey of healing and reconnection, both with myself and with the people and environment around me. This experience continues to guide my creative practice, inspiring me to seek solutions that are innovative, compassionate, and sustainable.

Your art often incorporates a tactile experience. How important is the sensory engagement of the viewer in your creations?

I believe that art should not only be seen but also felt. By incorporating tactile experiences into my creations, I aim to forge a deeper connection between the viewer and the artwork, transforming the act of observing into one of interaction and discovery. Touch and texture have the power to evoke emotions and memories that transcend visual perception, making the experience of art more immersive and personal.

For example, in projects where I integrate biomaterials or intricate 3D-printed structures, the tactile qualities often mirror the themes I explore—whether it’s the fragility of existence, the dynamic relationship between nature and technology, or the passage of time. The materials I use are deliberately chosen to invite physical interaction or to suggest textures that viewers can imagine feeling, even if they are not physically present. This sensory dimension encourages a profound awareness of the artwork, inviting viewers to explore it with multiple senses and to interpret its meaning in their own unique way.

Tactility also aligns with my interest in bridging the organic and the artificial. The physical textures of biomaterials, for instance, create a visceral connection to nature, while the precision of 3D-printed elements speaks to technological innovation. This juxtaposition emphasizes the balance between these worlds and underscores themes of sustainability, interconnectedness, and humanity’s evolving role in the ecosystem.

Ultimately, the tactile aspect of my work is not just about the physical interaction; it’s about inviting the viewer to engage more fully—with the artwork, with themselves, and with the world around them. By stimulating the senses, I hope to create experiences that linger in memory and foster a deeper understanding of the themes I explore.

What message do you hope to convey about the relationship between humanity and technology through your art?

Through my art, I aim to convey the importance of achieving a dynamic balance between humanity, technology, and nature. Technology and natural resources have always been deeply interconnected, existing in a reciprocal relationship where one influences and sustains the other. My work highlights this interdependence, emphasizing that while technology can amplify human productivity and innovation, it must remain grounded in ecological responsibility and respect for natural systems.

By integrating advanced techniques such as 3D printing and biomaterials into my creations, I strive to illustrate how technology can coexist harmoniously with nature, fostering solutions rather than creating conflict. This balance is not only vital for sustainability but also serves as a metaphor for the broader relationship between progress and preservation.

I want my art to inspire reflection on the choices we make as a society, encouraging a future where technological advancements do not overshadow but instead enhance our connection to the natural world. It is a call to reimagine innovation as a tool for regeneration and harmony rather than exploitation, aligning humanity’s creative potential with the enduring rhythms of the earth.