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Wenxu Zhao stands at the intersection of art, technology, and storytelling, seamlessly blending disciplines to craft deeply personal yet universally resonant works. With an MFA from the School of Visual Arts and a double major in Mathematics and Art from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has transformed her diverse academic background into a distinctive creative practice. From her whimsical illustrations to her groundbreaking digital projects, Wenxu's work invites viewers to pause, reflect, and rediscover the connections between imagination, nature, and the human experience.
Wenxu’s artistic journey began in her childhood, shaped by the countless hours she spent drawing and reading. “I used to lose myself in stories and illustrations, whether it was Story King or the beautifully illustrated pages of magazines like children’s literature,” she recalls. “Drawing was my way of creating my own little universe.” Her early fascination with storytelling developed into a profound commitment to crafting narratives through art, culminating in her Strawberry Fish Girl series. In these pieces, a fantastical protagonist—a girl with a fish body—embarks on dreamlike adventures that resonate with the complexities of human emotions. Each illustration carries layers of symbolism, from a tiger representing ambition to a peacock embodying hope. These images may appear playful on the surface, but they reflect Wenxu’s desire to explore the intersection of childlike wonder and adult introspection.
Nature plays a pivotal role in Wenxu’s creative process, not only as an aesthetic choice but as a medium for emotional storytelling. Her works often feature rich botanical landscapes and animal companions that act as mirrors for the human condition. “Plants and animals have their own personalities,” she explains. “A tree bending in the wind or a dragonfly resting on a leaf—these simple moments carry so much emotional weight.” Wenxu's ability to transform natural elements into intricate narratives is best illustrated in her Strawberry Fish Girl series, where her characters navigate lush, maze-like environments filled with life. Each detail invites viewers to linger, encouraging them to notice the beauty and subtle dynamics of the natural world.
While Wenxu’s illustrations root themselves in tradition, her practice ventures boldly into the realm of technology. One of her most ambitious projects is an immersive digital installation designed to address the psychological challenges faced by urban residents living in cramped spaces. Wenxu has designed a ceiling projection system that transforms the often-overlooked ceilings and walls of a room into a canvas for dynamic, interactive landscapes, creating an expandable visual space that helps alleviate stress and emotional tension. Designed for urban women experiencing depression and anxiety in confined living environments, the project synchronizes digital animations of trees, water, and light with users’ breathing patterns, creating a deeply healing and personalized meditative experience. This project merges code with art, weaving together Chinese traditional aesthetics and digital art to design an immersive therapeutic experience. The visualizations generated using Processing techniques like p5.js, such as gentle animations of digital plants and flowing water, synchronize with the user’s breathing patterns, guiding them into a meditative state that promotes emotional balance and tranquility.
The inspiration for this project stems from Wenxu's own experiences and those of her friends living in cramped spaces in New York City, feeling stifled and yearning for access to parks and expansive natural environments. Through academic research and personal interviews, Wenxu discovered compelling evidence of the therapeutic effects of green spaces and natural environments. For instance, a study by Stoltz et al. (2016) suggests that green spaces help reduce stress, with trees and natural elements having the most positive impact on mental health. Similarly, Qiu and Nielsen (2015) identified serenity and spaciousness as the most commonly preferred features of such spaces. These findings were strongly supported by interviews she conducted with young women aged 18–30 who experience depression, whom she reached out to through the social media platform Xiaohongshu. "I realized that a lot of people are searching for ways to reconnect with nature, even in small, fleeting ways. This project is my attempt to offer them that," she explains. “I realized that a lot of people are searching for ways to reconnect with nature, even in small, fleeting ways. This project is my attempt to offer them that,” she says.
Recognition for Wenxu’s work has been swift and widespread. She was awarded the 2024 Gold Winner at the Muse Creative Awards, and her illustrations have been showcased in exhibitions from New York to Seoul, as well as featured in international publications such as Al-Tiba9 Magazine. But her achievements extend beyond the art world. As a front-end developer, Wenxu has worked on high-impact projects for companies like Verizon, combining her technical expertise with her artistic sensibilities to create user-centered web applications. Her ability to approach problem-solving through both analytical and creative lenses sets her apart, enabling her to merge two seemingly different fields with ease.
At the core of Wenxu’s practice is a deep curiosity about human connection—whether it’s the connection between people and their inner child, the natural world, or emerging technologies. “Art, for me, is not just about creating something visually beautiful,” she reflects. “It’s about opening doors to conversations, emotions, and ideas we might not otherwise explore. It’s about building bridges.” This ethos is evident in all aspects of her work, from her delicate illustrations to her interactive installations.
As Wenxu continues to refine her craft, she remains guided by a belief in the transformative power of creativity. Her work is an invitation to pause in the chaos of daily life and rediscover the magic in the mundane. Whether through the soft brushstrokes of her illustrations or the immersive visuals of her digital installations, Wenxu Zhao reminds us that storytelling is not just an art form but a means of connection, healing, and hope.
Author: Zin
Two quotes:
Stoltz, J.; Lundell, Y.; Skärbäck, E.; van den Bosch, M.A.; Grahn, P.; Nordström, E.M.; Dolling, A. Planning for restorative forests: Describing stress-reducing qualities of forest stands using available forest stand data. Eur. J. Res. 2016, 135, 803–813.
Qiu, L.; Nielsen, A.B. Are perceived sensory dimensions a reliable tool for urban green space assessment and planning? Landsc. Res. 2015, 40, 834–854.