Wen Liu

You describe your work as an exploration of “liminal space.” How did you first encounter or develop this concept as central to your practice?

I first became aware of the concept of “liminal space” when studying both philosophy and cultural theory. For me, it represents a state of in-betweenness, a moment of transformation where things are undefined and open to new meanings. I found this idea deeply resonant with my own experience of moving between countries, languages, and identities, and it naturally became the core of my artistic practice.

Wen Liu | Currents Of Liminality | 2025

Your art combines painting, sculpture, ceramics, and installation. How do you decide which medium best serves the idea you want to express?

The concept always comes first, and the medium follows. Sometimes a painting is enough to capture ambiguity, while other times I need the physical presence of sculpture or ceramics to give form to liminality. Installation allows me to create immersive spaces where the audience can experience transition themselves.

Wen Liu | Currents Of Liminality | 2025

In your statement, you mention the influence of Heidegger, Laozi, and Zhuangzi. How do philosophy and spirituality guide your creative process?

Philosophy gives me a framework to think about being and time, while Daoist thought reminds me to embrace fluidity and transformation. I don’t approach art as a solution, but as a way to dwell in questions. These philosophical and spiritual traditions teach me to accept ambiguity and to let the work grow organically.

Wen Liu | Currents Of Liminality | 2025

Living between China, the United States, and Europe, how has your multicultural experience shaped your understanding of identity and belonging in your art?

Living across different cultures constantly shifts my perspective. Instead of seeking a fixed sense of belonging, I embrace hybridity. My identity is not one thing but many things in dialogue, and my work reflects this fluid condition.

Wen Liu | Currents Of Liminality | 2025

Your works feature bold colors, textures, and contrasts. How do you use color to evoke the sense of ambiguity and transformation you associate with liminal spaces?

Color, for me, is both emotional and symbolic. I use strong contrasts to signal moments of transition—where one state dissolves into another. Bright hues often suggest possibility, while darker tones hint at uncertainty. Together, they create tension and openness at the same time.

What role does interaction design play in your artistic practice, and how do you see the relationship between technology and traditional fine arts?

Interaction design allows me to consider how audiences move, touch, and respond to art. Technology is not separate from fine arts—it is simply another medium. I am interested in how traditional materials and digital tools can coexist, creating new forms of experience that resonate with contemporary life.

Wen Liu | Currents Of Liminality | 2025

How do you want audiences to feel or respond when they encounter your paintings and sculptures?

I don’t want to prescribe a single reaction, but I hope audiences feel a sense of openness, of being in-between. If they leave with more questions than answers, and if they feel both unsettled and inspired, then the work has achieved its purpose.