Interview with Xintong Qin(OT)
Bio:
OT is the creative force behind Xintong Qin-a London-based frog witch wandering/sometimes farm-crawling between city and nature.˂⁽ˈ₍ ⁾˲₎₌ She has resided in a range of small farms while learning and practicing permaculture. Using found objects as well as natural materials to craft occult artworks, she is on a quest to build her own tiny, whimsical world, one where she is free to relax and explore the hidden realms of nature.(๑˘ ˘๑)
1. Describe what a normal day looks like as an artist.
My life doesn’t follow a very regular rhythm. For example, I often travel to different rural areas for short residencies, where I spend most of my time outdoors exploring nature and learning about local folklore. Typically, I wake up early in the morning, stretch, and do some light farm work within my capacity. In the afternoon, when the light is good, I focus on my creative work. After dinner, I like to go out and explore the surrounding environment, avoiding indoor lighting for my art and instead drawing or creating under the natural light.
When I was in London, I worked as a freelance costume assistant 3-4 days a week. As a freelancer, my daily schedule wasn’t defined by others, but I made sure to set rules and create plans for myself, otherwise, I might waste time and produce work more slowly. Each morning, I would stretch for 20 minutes, have breakfast, and aim to stay as healthy as possible. Aside from my part-time job, I dedicated my free time to activities related to my creative practice. After work, I would go to my studio and work for a few hours. Sometimes I’d meet friends to visit exhibitions or engage in other activities during the week. This year, I started running in the park every Sunday. Running in the sunshine makes me feel incredibly relaxed, and after my run, I have brunch at home.
I work on my creative projects every day. Some days I work more, and other days, it’s just an hour. Most of the time, I simply make a habit of doing a little bit each day. I try not to put too much pressure on myself. Haha.
2. Can you tell us more about the theme in your art and your inspiration?
I love staying outdoors, and most of my creative inspiration comes when I am surrounded by nature. There’s something magical about the feeling of being struck by nature’s beauty, like suddenly realizing the magic of a tree, and wanting to quickly capture it with my pencil to share it with others. When I was young, I didn’t feel much connection to nature. Even when my parents took me to the park, I often thought the sun was too hot and didn’t want to go outside.
However, four years ago, when I first arrived in London, I was amazed by the abundance of parks, big and small, scattered all over the city. I began a thesis project focused on London’s parks, which is known as the world’s first national park city. During that time, I visited many parks, almost obsessively. It felt like they were alive, offering some kind of natural power. Inspired by this, I started creating outdoors, using materials I found in the forest. My works, like land art, were left in nature, and I could only document them through photographs. To better record and share my creative process and results, I published my first self-published zine, Suck Green and See, to document my discoveries and work in nature. I’ve continued using this zine to capture each stage of my creative practice, with each issue having a different theme. I’ve now published the sixth issue.
In my creative journey, I’ve also been researching outdoor folk performances and rituals, seeking to learn more about the simple yet beautiful folk traditions that have been forgotten over time. I’m often moved by these "clumsy" and "complicated" customs, and I draw a lot of inspiration from them—sometimes even directly from my grandmother. She lives in the countryside, never went to school, and still does farm work, but the crafts she makes deeply inspire me. I’ve tried to analyze why her creations move me so much, and I believe it’s because she makes them with such love for her children. The embroidery, sewing, and little sachets she creates are not just items; they are expressions of love and care for her family. These crafts are her way of wishing happiness and good luck to her children, and that love is what makes them so powerful, far beyond being mere objects.
3. How does your art life impact other parts of your life?
I believe that my artistic life exists alongside the rest of my life, and it is my own life experiences that provide me with inspiration for my art. At the same time, I use art as a way to interpret other aspects of my life, as if they are inseparable and interconnected. In short, I feel that art helps me understand myself more clearly, allowing me to connect with the true feelings in my heart, and also enables me to see the world in a deeper, more meaningful way.
4. Tell us about your best experience in the art world so far.
One of the best experiences of last year was an art residency I participated in during the summer, called the LOIS Transformation Desert Lab in Pustynia Błędowska, Poland. It is a hub for Ecological Imagination, addressing modern crises with eco-friendly innovation by transforming old shipping containers into vibrant educational spaces.
I met many interesting and inspiring artists there. Looking back, participating in the residency felt like a utopia—a temporary escape from urban life. Surrounded by nature, a group of artists gathered to engage in experimental and exciting activities every day, making life feel like a dream. We lived in the desert, sleeping in tents, bathing in the forest with cool water, and cooking over fire. It was like stepping back into a more primitive time, and experiencing such a simple way of life now feels beautiful in hindsight. I remember taking a bath in the forest, feeling the hot summer sun through the leaves and a cool breeze under the shade. It was as if my mind was naturally cleared, and in that moment, I imagined myself as a forest fairy. Haha!
5. What practical advice can you give to fellow artists?
The most important lesson I've learned is not to give up and to persevere. Secondly, I highly recommend going outside and taking walks in nature, especially when you're feeling down or lacking inspiration. The fresh air, the light, and the effects of the sun are incredibly beneficial for both our body and mind. Lastly, I believe it's important to exercise your body regularly, as it helps to maintain both physical and mental well-being.
6. Is the artist life lonely? Please share your thoughts and experiences.
From my perspective, I believe that most people experience loneliness, though I'm not sure if artists feel less lonely than others. Sometimes, I feel that living in London isn’t lonely, especially because my friends around me are also involved in art. Seeing everyone grow and succeed brings me a sense of fulfillment and pride. We also hold exhibitions and events together, supporting each other, which makes me feel connected in that way. However, from the viewpoint of an Asian living in Europe, there is a certain loneliness that comes from being physically distant from family and from my native culture in China. I think loneliness is inevitable, but it’s not necessarily a negative thing.
7. What are you working on at the moment and are there any upcoming events you would like to talk about?
Recently, I’ve started preparing for my new project this year, and I’m still in the research stage. I’ve also decided on the theme for the seventh issue of my zine, Suck Green and See. I will soon be publishing an Open Call to collect works and ideas from different people, so if you’re interested in my zine, feel free to follow @ot2f_pond.
As for the upcoming exhibition, I’m really looking forward to L’Age d’Or: Surrealistic Group Exhibition, which will take place in London this May. I will be exhibiting five of my drawings in this event. L’Age d’Or is the seventh edition of surreal, dark, and provocative art, inspired by the French surrealist film L’Age d’Or, directed by Luis Buñuel in collaboration with Salvador Dalí. The exhibition will bring together over 50 local and international artists to explore the question: What would Buñuel’s L’Age d’Or look like today? In what kind of "Golden Age" do we live? You are very welcome to visit and experience this thought-provoking exhibition in May!
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social mdedia:@othiefrogfairy