In this podcast episode’s dialogue with the guest, I discovered a shared concern and contemplation among us regarding identity, ethnicity, fluidity, and the missing elements in education here. Though we sojourn briefly, much like migratory birds, we all aspire to contribute something meaningful to the communities of our respective ethnicities.
Following is the introduction part of this episode:
Every beginning is challenging. As someone not good at outward expression, seeking the first podcast guest required considerable mental preparation. I am immensely grateful to Lik for participating in the inaugural recording, facilitated by a friend’s introduction.
Earlier this year, I attended two events hosted by Lik’s community, LuckyPot, and witnessed Lik’s performances. Despite being unfamiliar then, I sensed the vitality of both the community and Lik. In our interview, I delved into Lik’s initial motivations for community-building and the personal journey taken in London.
Perhaps, Lik’s readiness to participate in this podcast stems from the principle of ‘mutual support.’ ‘Celebrating the success of other artists, as it enhances the visibility of the community,’ resonates with Andrew Simonet’s words in ‘Making your Life as an Artist.’ Art is not a winner-takes-all competition; viewing peers as potential collaborators rather than competitors prevents isolation. Mutual support is more important than money.
【Guest】
Lik is a cross-media artist and curator focusing on visuals and performances, and the founder of LuckyPot.
Official account, Xiaohongshu, ins: LuckyPot
【You will hear】
01:26 Guest introduction
02:21 Reasons for choosing to stay in the UK
03:02 The period of uncertainty and how to deal with it
08:10 The impact of the British environment and the unstable state of staying here as a Chinese on personal practice
11:31 As an Asian artist, how do you feel about the artistic inclusiveness here?
13:16 An observation and summary of the characteristics of artists who are doing well enough to adapt to the British environment and system.
15:40 What are the British projects or event exhibition experiences that have a greater impact on the current practice?
16:25 Experiences and reflections on engaging in feminist drama, cross-cultural identity expression drama, and community building.
19:06 “Everyone can have a degree show”
20:22 Questioning the effectiveness of European art education for Asian students
27:00 The symbolism and meaning of the Lucky Pot; reflections on what is left here and what is taken away
28:29 I am considering returning to my country, and it is unlikely that I will stay in the UK for a long time.
30:13 Outlook on returning to China in the future
31:58 About the experience of finding a job and changes in mentality
36:00Advice to young artists in transition
Single episode cover creator: NiNi. From another of my healing projects supporting Chinese art graduates in the UK: 21emovoyage
Production and editing: 7u
BGM: Tadow – Masego/FKJ;
easy-Mac Ayres
Podcast link:
Xiaoyuzhou: https://www.xiaoyuzhoufm.com/episodes/65674cc49f440f5443d357e5
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/浴缸潜艇bathtubsubmarine/id1718227084