On the morning of March 31, 2025, the Product Design Department of the International Institute of Creative Design specially invited Li Zhengzhong—founder of the Yatopia Culture and Art Alliance, council member of the Shanghai Young Artists Association, public art installation artist, and curator—to deliver an engaging lecture for the students.
A versatile creative professional, Li Zhengzhong works not only as a public art installation creator but also as a curator and cultural platform operator. He has led several international art projects, including the Changning Branch of the Shanghai International Light Festival and the Seeing Vitality Multi-dimensional Co-creation Art Exhibition, accumulating extensive practical experience in the arts. The sharing session focused on Li's personal artistic practice, curatorial philosophy, and exploration into the commercialization of art projects, offering students fresh perspectives and inspiration in the field of art.
At the beginning of the session, Li Zhengzhong reflected on his personal growth experiences from the perspective of an urban observer. He shared fragmented moments, setbacks, and joys from his formative years, revealing how these lived experiences have become the core inspiration for his artistic creation.
Li went on to introduce the artistic concept of Gathering Partnership . He emphasized that by building a creative ecosystem with talented artists, every creator can gain equal opportunities to present their work to broader audiences and commercial channels, thereby fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and community co-creation. A vivid embodiment of this philosophy is the Neighborhood Partnership Program on Nanchang Road, which he led. By uniting local communities, businesses, residents, and young artists, the project transformed small spaces like shop windows and pocket parks into art galleries, creating a Boundless Museum. This initiative not only enhanced the cultural vitality of the neighborhood but also established an incubation platform for emerging artists through its regularly updated exhibition mechanism.
In sharing his practical experience at the intersection of art and commerce, Li presented several art projects, including the BLEND Young Experimental Art Exhibition, The Expression of Happiness China Experimental Sci-Tech Art Invitational Exhibition, and The Gaze Between Flower and Leopard solo exhibition by a young artist. These projects, grounded in the integration of digital technology and contemporary art, showcased the younger generation's vision of the future through installations, video, and new media art.
To conclude the session, Li engaged in an in-depth dialogue with the students. Drawing from his own artistic journey and life reflections, he encouraged them to seek meaning in everyday life and pay attention to those seemingly trivial yet powerful moments, as they often become the very source of creativity and spark of inspiration.
This session not only deepened students' understanding of art but also stimulated profound reflection across multiple dimensions, including interdisciplinary thinking, career development paths, and social responsibility. In the future, the International Institute of Creative Design will continue to invite industry pioneers to campus, providing students with cutting-edge industry perspectives and practical experience. This commitment aims to broaden their horizons, enhance their innovative capabilities, and lay a solid foundation for cultivating a new generation of design talents with global vision and creative spirit.
