Nuohan Jiang

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Featured in AQ Volume IV, Nuohan Jiang is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a BFA in Painting from Pratt Institute in 2024. Through her paintings, Nuohan explores subjects related to the non-linear perception of time and the juxtaposition of transience and immortality. Her meditative paintings invite viewers into a realm of contemplation and quiet reflection.

Nuohan’s work has been exhibited globally, including at Highline Nine Gallery, Anderson Contemporary, BAU Gallery, and iidrr Gallery in New York; Light House Art Center in Tequesta; Jones Gallery in Kansas City; Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas in Madrid; and Centrul Cultural al Municipiului București in Bucharest.

In addition to her painting practice, Nuohan Jiang founded Artists Living Room, where she has curated experimental exhibitions and conducted artist interviews since 2021. She has curated five in-person shows and two online shows. Nuohan Jiang has also been a member of the exhibition committee at the non-profit organization Baltimore Jewelry Center since 2022, where she reviews exhibition proposals and work received from open calls.


nuohanjiang.com

What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?

I have been into painting since childhood, as many people do. I used to make a lot of drawings with crayons. When I was a kid, I lived a few years in Changsha, a mid-scale city in China. There weren’t many art exhibitions in Changsha, and the few that existed mainly showcased realistic paintings. I remember a big painting exhibition and was so excited to see it. I saw some famous paintings like The Gleaners by Jean-François Millet. Although these paintings were beautifully done, they did not strike that much excitement in me.

Even when I went to Beijing with my dad, the shows we saw featured realistic oil paintings and Chinese traditional ink drawings. I thought that all paintings were supposed to be realistic, which made me lose interest in painting. Luckily, my mother, who also paints, noticed my confusion and started sharing books on modernist art with me. One particular book on Henry Matisse's paintings and cut-outs caught my attention. It was the summer of 2008. I spent the entire summer copying his works in a small sketchbook and also carrying the book everywhere to make drawings. Nobody told me to do so. I was eight years old at the time, so my drawings are still in a childlike style.

I was thrilled to learn that realism is not the only genre of painting and that people can still paint and draw like children even as adults! I continued drawing and started painting in watercolors, gouache, and acrylics. It was not until I was 21 that I fully committed to this path. During the years in between, I received some formal training. However, I was intimidated by the sayings that it is almost impossible to make a living as an artist and that only a few exceptionally talented people can achieve that.

People often tell me even talented artists struggle to make a living, and they were usually discovered after death. Therefore, at first, I didn’t choose painting as my major when I went to Pratt Institute. However, I realized my passion for painting was still there when I took an Intro to Painting class. I also fell in love with using oil paints!

I was about to finish my sophomore year at Pratt before the pandemic hit the world. I took a gap year during the pandemic and did more research about the field of contemporary art and current artists. I also started to organize exhibitions and met more people. I discovered that while being an artist isn't easy and making a living from it may be challenging, it is still possible, and many people are doing it.

I found that although not everyone earns a full-time living from their artistic careers, they keep creating and finding ways of making a living while pursuing art. During the pandemic, I realized how fleeting life is and felt blessed to have the chance to explore and create art. I am determined to follow my heart and dedicate myself to creating artwork I am proud of. I believe that by letting go of worldly expectations of success and comparisons with others, I can make stronger and more confident choices.


Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?

My recent paintings delve into humanity's timeless fascination with the mysteries of the universe. I think it is ultimately a quest for self-discovery. The works ask if our minds and energy can transcend the physical boundary to connect with the cosmos and sense immortality in a transient life. Whether there is a definite answer, the paintings are invitations to seek inner peace amidst the chaos along the journey. There are a lot of symbols in my paintings, such as spheres, mist, light, moths, shimmering fragments, ripples, holes, and so on. They exist in undefined space, alluding to both the cosmic vastness and the intricate landscapes of the mind. I have developed more and more symbols. There are times when I pre-assign meanings to them to convey ideas, and there are times when I instinctively decide to use one and realize its meaning later on. The imagery often flashes into my mind for me to translate it into sketches. Sometimes images are very defined, even colors, and sometimes they are blurry, so I have to spend more time figuring them out. I intend the paintings to be meditative by using certain colors and brushstrokes. I hope they exude tranquility and a sense of frozen time.


What was the most challenging part of your path so far? How are you navigating this obstacle?

The biggest challenge for me used to be having a determined mind and trusting myself. I am getting better and better at it. Over the past two years, I faced many mental and physical challenges. Luckily, I managed to overcome them, gradually building trust in myself and believing that I could handle difficulties in life. Even when I feel disappointed or broken, I know deep down that I can get through it. The physical challenges taught me the importance of health. It is crucial to learn better earlier rather than later in life and not take health for granted. Through these experiences, I am gaining a clearer understanding of what is truly important to me and learning to let go of unnecessary expectations and struggles. Ideas from Buddhist philosophy have been inspiring and helpful to me. My paintings are informed greatly by these ideas, combined with my own experiences and understanding.


What role do experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?

They play a constant role for me, even when I am not deliberately doing it. When I feel stuck while creating particular paintings, I have gradually learned that the feeling of uncertainty is usually a chance for further experimentation and exploration. The results are usually unexpectedly surprising. For example, I spent more time painting The Echoes and Ripples of Echoes. I learned so much from the process. They gave me new inspirations for the next ones.


Do you have any start or stop rituals before creating?

I usually have a cup of coffee or tea and, most importantly, put on earphones to listen to a playlist I have created over time. One of the albums I listen to a lot is Ryuichi Sakamoto’s async. When sketching for new paintings, I always take deep breaths and close my eyes for a while.


What message do you hope your art conveys to the world?

I have always hoped that my paintings are an invitation to seek inner peace, and through my paintings, viewers can enjoy a moment of quietness. My paintings express humanity's timeless fascination with the mysteries of the universe. Ultimately, that is the desire to know more about ourselves, like the origin of our existence and why we are here. Whether there's a definite answer to these questions, I see life as a journey of self-discovery. There is always too much chaos in the world, so I think it is important to find inner peace amidst the chaos along the journey.


Share a mantra or favorite quote that keeps you going.

I can't think of one specific quote. The book Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse helped me a lot.