“My extremes, my peace, my anger, and everything in between.”

An interview with Yan Bingqing

Verbose dexterity and painting lithe hands that reach far and wide are but two of the strokes of artist Yan Bingqing’s genius. Yan had been on the Amurmur hot list for months and we finally sat down together but apart, at different times, in different languages and with transnational back and forth were able to piece questions and answers together. As you read these delightful words hold your own agile hands, balance on your chest, knot your arms, wear your suit of fish and let your ties string you along.

In usual Amurmur form, the original aim with spotlighting Yan Bingqing’s singular output was to attempt to greenhouse its arms and wings and connect it to thoughts, feels and related grounds. But how does one harness something so thrillingly unexampled? Unlocking as many phalanges may have been Yan’s way of asking that the snakes be left… shall we say, untouched.

Hands and Bubble, 2022.

My name is Yan Bingqing. I was born in 1983 in Shanghai. I hold a master’s degree in Oil Painting from the China Academy of Art, and I currently live and work in Shanghai.

When did you first start painting?
I began systematic art training in the fifth grade of primary school, after winning a prize in a children’s art competition. That recognition was the catalyst for my artistic journey.

What inspires you?
Early on, I relied heavily on texts and images for inspiration. Now, however, I no longer need such specific stimuli — inspiration comes naturally from everyday life, anytime and anywhere.

Salted Fish Man, 2023

Fulcrum, 2022

Your paintings feature human forms in unusual situations. Do these come from dreams or how you see the world?
They stem entirely from my perspective of the world: my extremes, my peace, my anger, and everything in between. As I grow older, these perspectives shift and evolve subtly.

Do you paint from your imagination or work with costumes and models?
I rarely use reference images because they can easily limit my creativity. I only turn to them when I need to clarify a specific form — for example, if I’m painting a dove and can’t fully visualize its movement from memory.

How long does it take you to imagine and finish a painting?
It varies greatly. For smaller-sized works, I typically complete about two pieces in a month.

Hands, 2022

Are there any artists or things that ignite your creativity?
It’s hard to name a single artist, but I am particularly drawn to Early Renaissance art. I admire its directness, purity, and earnestness — a time when techniques were not yet overly sophisticated, making the expression feel raw and genuine.

What is your favorite emotion to capture and why?
I prefer capturing real emotions from my own life. This process sometimes involves magnifying my negative feelings, but it makes the work authentic to my experience.

I noticed you work a lot with hands. Is there something about them you particularly like?
Hands serve multiple purposes in my work. Sometimes I’m simply fascinated by how the masters depicted hands. Other times, they act as an anchor across different periods of my practice, allowing me to track my artistic evolution. They also become a testing ground for resolving formal painting problems.

Night, 2023

Do you work with any folklore or local legends or do your artistic worlds stem from personal mythology?
In my early career, I drew heavily from texts, interpreting them through my own lens. Now, I don’t rely on texts so directly, though some of my imagery may resonate with certain stories, offering viewers space for interpretation.

Do you have any upcoming shows planned?
I will be holding an exhibition in Beijing this May, showcasing paintings and sculptures created from 2025 up to the present.

Do you have a personal favorite among the paintings you’ve done?
This is a question I get asked often. I don’t have a single favorite finished piece. My current favorite is always the work I’m in the middle of creating — and once it’s finished, my focus shifts to the next "favorite."