Helen Jiayu Zhang | Multidisciplinary Artist and Designer

Helen Jiayu Zhang is a multidisciplinary artist and designer whose practice navigates the boundaries between art and design. By manipulating graphics, text, and movement, she investigates the intricacies of the mind-body connection and the representation of the female body. Helen Jiayu Zhang treats design as a process-based practice where form arises naturally from content, often viewing graphics as performance and books as a medium for post-production. Her archive from 2018 to 2025 showcases a diverse portfolio including editorial projects, live art, typeface design, and installations. Notable works like 'The Metaphor of Sand' combine video and performance to explore themes of witnessing and watching, while 'Like Air for Breath' at the Shanghai Third Street Gallery delves into ecological and bodily interconnections. Other significant projects include 'The Unfamiliar Body', which spans websites and performances, and 'En dedans-Giselle', a variable typeface and branding project. Helen Jiayu Zhang’s multidisciplinary approach also extends to 'Graphing Ballet' and 'Improvising Ballet', where she uses riso-graphy and digital interaction to communicate ideas globally. With a commitment to being globally aware and honest, she creates unique systems for each project, ensuring that the visual outcome is a logical reflection of the underlying subject matter. Her work has been featured in exhibitions and publications, reflecting a deep inquiry into social constructs, improvisation, and the relationship between physical and digital spaces. By utilizing suitable media for each concept, Helen Jiayu Zhang ensures that the form becomes the subject matter itself, moving beyond mere visuals to reach the soul of the work.