Lin Tian Qi

My practice begins with reverence for the essence of matter.

Born in Sydney and educated in Beijing, I entered the Central Academy of Fine Arts
(CAFA) in 2021. During my three-year printmaking training, the lithography studio
became my sanctuary. The gritty resistance of corundum when grinding the stone, the metallic smell of kerosene blended with nitric acid—these physical imprints shaped my fundamental understanding of art: creation is the act of listening to the breath of matter. The stone slab’s sensitivity to humidity, the unpredictable paths of ink seepinginto limestone, constantly reminded me to embrace the inevitability of chance.

From stone prints to paper works, then to wood installation, honor the material itself
has anchored my practice. My transition to abstract oil painting stems from this
exploration of material essence—before being assigned functions or social attributes, matter exists as complete and self-sufficient. Oil paint, as a classical medium, transcends its role as an image-bearer; its untapped properties remain veiled in silence, awaiting discovery.

Now I stand on Australian earth, feeling the wind from where I was born. I listen to
the land under my feet.

For me, art is a practice of humbly seeking wisdom from all beings.