To Be a Vessel: On Listening, Ritual, and the Softness of Power

Interview with Renfang Ke

1. Please tell us something about your background and your art journey so far.

I’m a visual artist from China, currently based in New York. My practice moves between painting, photography, and moving images. I’ve always been drawn to details — how people sit, light falls, things change with time. Creating gradually became the way I experience life. Over time, it turned into something I wanted to share — not just as images, but as a way of noticing and holding moments.

2. Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.

A normal day begins with a short meditation. Then I head to a local café for my daily cappuccino and croissant. I usually spend an hour reading and journaling before going home to shower and stretch — waking up the body to meet the day.

Once I enter the studio, I warm up with music and free sketching, letting my hands’  movements to activate the mind. Some days I paint. Some days I photograph. Other times I edit films or just walk and observe. Around 5pm I go to the gym before heading home.

It’s not anything special — more often it’s a quiet negotiation between deep focus and everyday logistics. But when I’m truly in it, time collapses.

3. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?

A lot of my work is about everyday things — gestures, stillness, and how emotions inhabit space. I’m drawn to subtlety: a flower, a hand, a shadow across someone’s face when he lowers his eyelids.

I don’t always plan the meaning in advance. I begin first, then look back and try to understand.

Recently, I’ve been fascinated by the plants in my studio. It feels like they can sense my energy and respond. That observation led me to ponder how we are connected.

4. How does your art life impact other parts of your life?

I don’t treat art as something separate from everyday life. It’s part of it, a way to experience life and myself. The way I arrange my home, how I interact with people, what I notice in a day — all of it is part of how I make work.

Being an artist helped me slow down, pay attention, and soften. I no longer think of art and life as separate compartments. It’s more like one long conversation that keeps evolving.

5. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.There are rare moments in the creative process when everything aligns — not just light and space, but also the rhythm of your breath, the clarity of your mind, and the way your hand meets the material.

I call it a state of alignment — when time, energy, and intention converge. It’s not about expressing an idea. It’s about becoming one with the subject in front of you. That feeling is powerful and addicting — and also humbling. It reminds me why I create.

6. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?

Build a rhythm that works for you. Read. Meditate. Clear the noise as much as possible so you can become a vessel. When the moment arrives, you’ll be ready to catch it.

Don’t wait for the perfect mood or idea — just begin. Clarity often comes after you start moving.

7. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.

Not really. In fact, it grounds me. It helps me connect more deeply with the people I care about.

There’s something about working with your hands that brings you back to what matters. The key is to have people around you who understand what you’re trying to do — regardless of their background and occupations.

8. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?I’m currently working on a flower series. I just felt the urge one day and started painting. The more I paint, the more I observe, and the more fascinated I become.

I believe everything — or everyone — reveals its beauty when you look deep enough. If you learn to truly observe a flower, you’ll also learn how to care for a human being.

I’m also thinking about a photo series about womanhood — possibly across generations in my family.

In addition, I’m revisiting some short films I shot years ago but never finished. Completing them now feels like a form of training — a way to reconnect with that version of myself and bring it forward.

Website: kerenfang.com

Instagram: @kerenfang