Interview: Bingqin Zhang
Luca Curci talks with Bingqin Zhang during CONSCIOUSNESS, second appointment of the ANIMA MUNDI 2022 art fair, at Palazzo Albrizzi – Capello.

Bingqin (Zaccheo) Zhang is a Chinese artist studying in the United States. After completing her graduate studies at the Savannah College of Art and Design, she goes to New York for further studies. Her works focus on the spiritual connection with the external world and individuals and strive to rejuvenate the photographic medium in modern art. This young artist’s exploration of photographic materials has opened up more possibilities for photography. She is convinced that the characteristics of photographic materials are the elements that make photography diversified and rejuvenated. At the same time, she believes that her creative, experimental methods have allowed photography to go back to the close relationship with science and reborn from it into a unique way of artistic expression.

Luca Curci – What are you currently working on?
Bingqin Zhang – I’ve recently been experimenting with film as a narrative rather than a picture, finding the most appropriate creative language between video and still pictures. Also, deepening my last project “One Kind of Touch”, I aim to investigate more deeply the connection between photographic materials and artists and to explore the role of art materials in contemporary art.

LC – When you take photos, are you usually inspired by the situation or do you find inspiration in yourself?
BZ – When I’m shooting, I usually look to myself for inspiration. The passion and courage that I think are most needed in creation, only my own urgently felt the desire to create can sustain my exploration and research. Of course, there are times when external situations touch me and inspire me to create, but again I see it as an inspiration from the inside out.

LC – How important is the editing process in your work? How’s yours?
BZ – I need to be honest and say that most of my work doesn’t really need editing. I place a lot of value on prep work and set-up, and I spend more time on prep and research than I do on post-editing.

LC – What do you think about the concept of this exhibition? How did it inspire you?
BZ – I think this exhibition is about the expression of consciousness. I see different mediums in the exhibition, and all of these works show the artist’s own thinking and understanding of the world. These works remind me of the increasing importance of media language in contemporary art, and how to maximize the creativity of art language in contemporary times is a question worth thinking about.

LC – What do you think about ITSLIQUID Platform?
BZ – I think it’s a great platform for curators to make connections between different artists with their own unique visions.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event? 
BZ – I was there and I loved the atmosphere of the opening reception. Many of the guests present were able to enjoy the artwork while viewing the artworks.