Kelly (Zixuan) Qi

Kelly (Zixuan) Qi | If I Were An Aries

Your work often uses “your childhood self” as the main protagonist. When did you first realize that childhood imagery could become a central narrative tool for exploring emotional and psychological growth?

This August, while sorting old photos at home, I found some childhood pictures I had never seen before. I was smiling and looked very confident in them. That was very different from how I remembered myself. Looking at my younger self in the photos warmed my heart. It made me realize that childhood images have a comforting power. It also made me start to think differently about how emotions begin and subtly change.

After that, I started using “my childhood self” as a character in my work. Using my own photos in collages feels more meaningful and real to me than using images from magazines or old books. This storytelling approach also helps me draw the viewer into the emotional space of my work and reflection.

In this piece, Aries is represented through fire, rams, and a sports car. How do you translate astrological symbolism into visual language without falling into clichés?

When creating this artwork about Aries, I didn’t start with the “symbols” themselves. Instead, I thought about her personality and energy. I wrote down Aries’ strengths and weaknesses, such as drive, directness, impulsiveness, and making quick decisions. Then, I looked for visual elements to represent these feelings, using familiar things from our daily lives.

Fire, the ram, and the sports car aren’t just “Aries labels” for me. They are three different expressions: fire represents immediate drive, the ram is like instinct and defiance, and the sports car symbolizes speed, desire, and control. I avoided using symbols like “instruction manuals,” such as pasting constellation images. I wanted these elements to appear as characters in a story. So viewers, even those who don’t know astrology, could feel that the image represents someone who is eager and relate to it.

For me, astrology is a metaphorical language. I wanted to translate it into a more intuitive visual experience, making it understandable even for those who aren’t interested in astrology.

Kelly (Zixuan) Qi | If I Were A Libra

The Stardust Journey series explores “multiple selves” and self-healing. How do you define the concept of “multiple selves”, and how does it manifest visually in your work?

For me, “multiple selves” is not an abstract idea, but a very common feeling. We change constantly as we grow. In different stages, relationships, and emotional states, we show different versions of ourselves. Some parts remain, while others are slowly hidden, but they don’t really disappear.

In the Stardust Journey series, I used three different versions of my “childhood self” to represent these different selves. They are not specific characters, but different parts of the same person: some are more open, some more defensive, and some more quiet.

Visually, I use digital collage to take apart and put back together these three faces, making a new one. This process is like organizing and understanding myself. It’s not about removing differences but letting them coexist. For me, this is also a gentle way of healing.

The handmade-collage effect -linen, felt, stitching – is an important part of your aesthetic. What draws you to this tactile language, especially in a fully digital medium?

I like these materials because of the feelings they give me, not their ideas. Even when I create things digitally, I want the image to feel real, like you can touch it.

Linen feels calm and natural to me. Its fibers and rough surface create small, unpredictable details in the digital world. When I place my hand-drawn nebulae on it, it looks like a soft, breathing night sky. Felt has a stronger emotional effect. It is relaxing to touch and look at. Making it makes me feel happy and comfortable, and that feeling stays in the artwork. Stitching is more of an action. For me, sewing, connecting, and fixing things are things I do often to “rebuild myself.” So, stitching is an important symbol in my work.

Kelly (Zixuan) Qi | If I Were A Lion

The symmetrical rams connected by stitching suggest integration of conflicting energies. How does your own emotional or astrological experience inform this symbolism?

This image shows how I feel. I am an Aries, but my rising sign is Capricorn. This often makes me feel torn between my feelings and my actions. One part of me acts quickly without thinking. The other part plans carefully before acting. This is not a simple conflict. The two parts of me exist together. I often have to balance “acting now” with “planning first.”

For me, the stitches connecting the face and the ram are like trying to bring these different energies together. The stitches don’t get rid of the conflict, but they help the energies support each other. This creates a more stable and real balance.

Color plays a soothing role in your practice. How do you approach color when working with themes like conflict, inner turmoil, or emotional healing?

When dealing with conflict or strong emotions, I usually don’t use dark or heavy colors. I focus on whether the image can make me pause and reflect.

I begin with bright, saturated colors that feel lively and warm. Then, I slowly make these colors lighter and softer, like a feeling of peace after strong emotions. This process feels natural and personal to me. As the colors become brighter and calmer, I feel the image come to life. I want the viewer to feel relaxed when they see my art. Even if it’s just for a moment, if they can forget their worries, that’s enough for me.

Kelly (Zixuan) Qi | If I Were An Aquarius

Fashion design and patternmaking were your first creative fields. How have these disciplines shaped your approach to composition, texture, and narrative in digital collage?

The biggest impact of fashion design and pattern making on me is that it helped me develop the habit of thinking creatively in a three-dimensional way. When designing clothes, I usually start with the overall structure rather than small details. This way of thinking also influences my digital collage creations.

In terms of how the images are put together, I see all the symbolic parts as a single body. I think about their size, rhythm, and feeling, similar to how I create the shape and layers of a garment. I intentionally leave empty spaces to avoid a cluttered image and to give the viewer space to look. Regarding texture, I consider the overall atmosphere of the work. I shape emotions using color, layers, and touch, a method I developed in fashion design, now using a different medium. As for the story, I see each piece as part of a series. Like different outfits in a collection, they stand alone, but together they reveal a more complete emotion and story. That’s why I focus on the connection within a series rather than the narrative of a single piece.