Yiyi QianArtist + XR/HCI Researcher
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Artist + XR/HCI Researcher

Biography

Yiyi Qian is an artist and XR/HCI researcher based in Hangzhou, China. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Digital Media Art at China Academy of Art, where she is a member of the AI Center. Her practice and research investigate embodied experience, spatial narrative, and user experience in virtual reality, with particular attention to digital cultural heritage. Working across cinematic VR and interactive installation, she connects creative production with research questions, design methods, and evaluation. Her recent projects include Deepcore: When Cave Breath, The Enigma of the Divine Capital, and Resonance. Her research has been published at ACM ICHEC 2025 and SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 Posters. She received the 2024 National Scholarship for Graduate Students and graduated from China Academy of Art in the top 5% of her undergraduate cohort as an Outstanding Graduate of Zhejiang Province.

Emailyiyiqian06@gmail.comORCIDorcid.org/0009-0008-7228-343X
XiaohongshuXiaohongshu QR Code

Education

  • M.A. in Digital Media Art, China Academy of Art — 2024–2027 (expected); member of the AI Center
  • B.A. in Industrial Design, Media and Interaction Track, China Academy of Art — 2020–2024; top 5%

Honors & Awards

  • Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship
  • First-Class University Scholarship, China Academy of Art
  • First-Class University Scholarship, China Academy of Art
  • Top 100 Emerging Designers in Asia
  • Xia Peng (Yao Fu) Scholarship
  • First-Class University Scholarship, China Academy of Art
  • Outstanding Graduate of Zhejiang Province
  • Outstanding Graduate of China Academy of Art
  • National Scholarship for Graduate Students
  • Zhejiang Provincial Government Scholarship

Exhibitions and professional record

Deepcore: When Cave Breath

Cinematic VR film · Production: Mar–Jul 2025

Film festival awards and selections

DateFestival / AwardLocation
Aug 2026Animaze — Montreal International Animation Film Festival — Official SelectionMontreal, Canada
Jun 20262026 WSXA Paris International Film Festival — FinalistParis, France
Apr 2026The Buddha International Film Festival — Best Virtual Reality VideoIndia
Feb 2026Independent Days International Filmfest — Official SelectionKarlsruhe, Germany
Jan 2026Global Film Festival Awards — Best Virtual Reality 360Los Angeles, USA
Jan 2026Global Film Festival Awards — Best Visual EffectsLos Angeles, USA
Dec 2025Tianjin International Academic Film Festival — Official SelectionTianjin, China
Nov 20254th Golden Rooster XR Film Festival (2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival) — Official SelectionXiamen, China
Oct 202517th Xiamen International Animation Festival — Gold Award, Virtual Reality CategoryXiamen, China
Oct 202517th Xiamen International Animation Festival — Best Education AwardXiamen, China
Oct 2025VR FEST MX — Official SelectionMexico
Sep 2025Cannes World Film Festival — Best Virtual Reality (Short)Cannes, France
Mar 2025Hollywood Shortsfest — Honorable MentionHollywood, USA

Exhibitions

DateExhibitionLocation
Jul 2026Dunhuang Summer Art SeasonDunhuang, China
May 20262026 World Digital Education ConferenceZhejiang, China
May 20262026 Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art ExpoZhuhai, China
Apr 2026Archives of Possible Worlds: 2026 International Art and Technology ExhibitionBeijing National Stadium, China
Nov 2025Hong Kong International AI Art FestivalHong Kong, China
Nov 202516th China Film Science and Technology ForumHainan, China
Oct 2025Light and Shadow Dome Digital Art ExhibitionBeijing, China
Oct 2025Hangzhou International Buddhist Cultural Exchange CenterHangzhou, China
Oct 202519th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry ExpoHangzhou, China
Oct 20254th CDSA International Media Art and Creative Design Competition ExhibitionMilan, Italy
Oct 2025Beijing Biennale — Digital Art Special ExhibitionBeijing, China
Jul 2025Shanghai Dunhuang Contemporary Art MuseumShanghai, China

Resonance

Interactive experiential environment · 2024

DateExhibition / AwardLocation
Oct 20242024 HONOR Talents Global Design Awards—
Jun 2024China Academy of Art Graduation ExhibitionHangzhou

Lakṣana

Digital video · Sep–Dec 2022

DateExhibition / AwardLocation
Oct 2024The 14th National Exhibition of Fine Arts — Digital Art ExhibitionShanghai
29 May–4 Jun 20232023 China Science Fiction ConferenceShougang Park, Beijing
12 Feb–12 Apr 2023The 1st Shanghai Digital Art International Expo (SDAF)Wang Xiaohui Art Museum, Shanghai

Curatorial Experience

DateExhibitionLocationRole
17–20 Oct 202519th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry ExpoHangzhou, ChinaCuratorial Assistant
Dec 2024The 14th National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Beijing Exhibition) — Digital Art and Animation SectionBeijing, ChinaCuratorial Design and Exhibition Production
Oct 20241st China Digital Art ExhibitionHangzhou, ChinaCuratorial Assistant
2024Maitreya Museum, 6th World Buddhist ForumNingbo, ChinaCuratorial Design and Exhibition Production

Selected moments

Personal photograph with friends
Best friends · 2017
Photograph from the Institute of Media and Interaction at China Academy of Art
Media and Interaction Research Institute · 2020–2024
Photograph from Yiyi Qian’s years at the Institute of Media and Interaction
Media and Interaction Research Institute · 2020–2024
Photograph from the AI Center at China Academy of Art
AI Center · 2024–Present
Photograph from Yiyi Qian’s current work at the AI Center
AI Center · 2024–Present

Work Journal

Newest → Earlier
  1. Yiyi Qian presenting at the World Digital Education Conference
    Presenting at the World Digital Education Conference.
  2. Setting up the Deepcore exhibition at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art ExpoDeepcore installation at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art ExpoYiyi Qian with Lu Rongzhi at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art Expo
    Exhibiting Deepcore: When Cave Breath at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art Expo—installing the work with Zirui Huang and meeting curator Lu Rongzhi.
  3. Yiyi Qian introducing Deepcore to Yang Lan at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art Expo
    Introducing Deepcore: When Cave Breath to Yang Lan at the Hengqin–Macao International Digital Art Expo.
  4. Yiyi Qian holding event badges at the Hong Kong International AI Art FestivalYiyi Qian interacting with an illuminated installation at the Hong Kong International AI Art FestivalDeepcore exhibition installation at the Hong Kong International AI Art Festival
    Exhibition setup at the Hong Kong International AI Art Festival with Guijie Ding.
  5. Yiyi Qian’s first SIGGRAPH Asia poster on display in Hong Kong
    My first SIGGRAPH Asia poster, presented in Hong Kong.
  6. Yiyi Qian’s ICHEC 2025 research poster and conference badge in Singapore
    Presenting my first full paper at ICHEC, Singapore.
  7. Award recipients on stage at the 2025 Cyber Sousa Award ceremonyCyber Sousa gold award trophy and certificate for Deepcore
    Receiving the Cyber Sousa Gold Award for Deepcore: When Cave Breath.
  8. Yiyi Qian with Professor Chen Yan and members of the AI Center in Beijing
    AI Center in Beijing, with Professor Chen Yan, Director of the AI Center.
  9. Yiyi Qian at Unreal Fest Shanghai 2025
    Unreal Fest Shanghai 2025.
  10. Project team at the first public presentation of Deepcore in ShanghaiVR headsets prepared for the first public presentation of Deepcore in ShanghaiYiyi Qian at the first public presentation of Deepcore in Shanghai
    Deepcore: When Cave Breath presented publicly for the first time at Dunhuang Contemporary Art Museum, Shanghai.
  11. Course material on media evolution for Artificial Intelligence and Digital ArtCourse material on digital performance for Artificial Intelligence and Digital ArtCourse material on digital art ontology for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Art
    Contributing to the development of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Art, a Zhejiang Provincial First-Class Online Course.
  12. Mingshan Shengying installed at Maitreya Museum in NingboLate-night production work for Mingshan Shengying at Maitreya Museum
    Creating Mingshan Shengying at Maitreya Museum, Ningbo, during late-night production with Wenzhe Zheng and Zhen Yu.
  13. Recipients of the 2023–2024 National Scholarship for Graduate Students at China Academy of Art
    Receiving the National Scholarship for Graduate Students.
  14. Animation and Digital Art Section of the 14th National Exhibition of Fine Arts in Beijing
    Contributing to the curation of the 14th National Exhibition of Fine Arts — Animation and Digital Art Section, National Museum of China, Beijing.
  15. Poster for the Human–Machine Resonance exhibition in ShanghaiParticipants at the Human–Machine Resonance exhibition in ShanghaiYiyi Qian speaking at the Human–Machine Resonance exhibition in Shanghai
    Human–Machine Resonance exhibition, Shanghai.
  16. Yiyi Qian and Liu Yu during a Zhejiang Television interview about Resonance
    Zhejiang Television interview about Resonance, with Liu Yu.
  17. Yiyi Qian presenting her graduation project on stage at China Academy of Art
    Presenting my graduation project at “Three Nights Under the Tree,” China Academy of Art.
  18. Yiyi Qian at the inaugural China Digital Art Exhibition in HangzhouCuratorial team of the inaugural China Digital Art Exhibition
    Curatorial assistant for the inaugural China Digital Art Exhibition, Hangzhou.