Zifeng Zang: Feminine Color Expression
Seeking Hope. Mixed media on canvas.
A Sunny Day with my Faith. Mixed media on canvas.
Artist Zifeng Zang
Untitled. Mixed media on canvas.
The Echo of the You. Mixed media on canvas.
Catching the Sun. Mixed media on canvas.
Instagram: @zifengzang
Website: www.zifengzang.com
Chinese-born artist Zifeng Zang explores femininity in her bold, expressive abstract paintings. Zifeng’s color palette is deeply inspired by her experience as a mother and wife, and reflects the tenderness and independence of women. In this interview, Zifeng shares her creative journey to abstract expressionism.
How did your creative journey begin?
I have been engaged in artistic and creative work. I started receiving formal art education from a very young age, including graduating from a specialist art high school and BFA in China. Before coming to the United States, I was a graphic designer and brand manager. However, I still fell in love with creating art by my hand more than using digital tools. So, in 2016, I decided to study abroad to explore what I really what to paint and pursue a new journey of being an artist.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
A lot of things inspire me. But the most inspired for me is the relationship between myself and nature, music, and life. Because I am always and easily touched by every bit of my life, my works reflect how I love and feel everything around me. My choice of color comes from my role as a mother and wife. I hope I can feel the tenderness and independence of women when expressing myself.
Otherwise, Helen Frankenthaler's works also have a significant influence on me. I appreciate her excellent expression as a female artist and her interaction with color. Especially her clever use of positive and negative spaces gives me plenty of ideas.
How has your work shifted and evolved over time?
There is a lot of change. In my early paintings, I did a lot of abstract female figure paintings, especially the back of female figures. I love the beauty of female muscle lines and imagine them in a particular environment, such as taking a bath or sitting in front of the mirror.
Later, due to the pandemic, I studied how to make my paintings more abstract and other techniques at home. After more than a year of research and exploration, my paintings gradually changed into a very different look. Especially, the more feminine color expression in my works is the inspiration left by my previous creation.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
My day in the studio always starts with a cup of coffee. Before formal creation, I will do a lot of warm-up painting, including on paper and small size raw canvas. Because my painting is usually self-expression, I had to collect a lot of sketches or notes about recent feelings, such as favorite music, interesting news, or my photographs from hiking. I also would stretch the new canvas, the time for waiting for the canvas to dry then paintings because this way could save more time.
Constant practice is a key to the development of my work. Continuous experimentation and not being afraid of failure have played a significant role in the growth of my art practice. I don't know how many canvases I ruined during my entire exploration until my painting gradually approached my aesthetic ideals.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
My career as a designer has greatly influenced my work. Because many composition and color matching skills also partly involve previous experience. Moreover, from a designer to an artist, such a completely different career change and the experience of living in China and the United States have made me feel more mature and experienced. These changes have made me better able to observe my life and express myself.
How has Instagram impacted your art career?
I cannot deny that social media provides me with more opportunities to expose my work. Especially during the pandemic, traveling became a hard time for me. I believe Instagram has been a very effective business tool, allowing me to show my paintings outside of my city and reach out to the art community. However, most of the time, it also makes me see that it is very challenging to be an artist because we can see millions and millions of excellent works posted on Instagram every day. So how to make art more outstanding has become a significant challenge for the artist.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
As the pandemic cases decline, I think it is time to participate in more activities and exhibitions. I really want to go to many different countries or places to expose my works. I hope my career could be more international.