He He, Shanghai-based Artist

For He He, an artist living in Shanghai, art is a language without words. She dedicates her life to art, immersing herself in it, using it as a means for self-discovery and self-expression. Using traditional techniques and motifs to create her own masterpieces, He He considers art as a powerful tool of communication and transformation. She also works with people suffering from depression, helping them to make art and to minimise their own pain through creative work. Through her practice, she perpetuates traditional forms of art, encouraging future generations fall in love with them.

He He is a Chinese artist living in Shanghai. For her, art is a language without words. She dedicates her life to creative work, immersing herself in it and using it as a means for self-discovery, self-expression and healing. Using traditional techniques and motifs to create her own masterpieces, He He considers art as a powerful tool, both of communication and of transformation. Art is like a bridge for her; it connects people to each other and to their feelings. It can open a window into your emotions, revealing what may be buried deep down and bringing a shared sense of awareness.

Inspired after making art with several friends who had been through difficult times, He He, known as He-Hua by those close to her, decided to provide free art lessons to people suffering from depression. She teaches traditional artistic techniques, like line drawing and pastel painting, allowing her students to express themselves through ancient practices. With time and focus, her students learn to give form and colour to their own feelings, eventually developing the capacity to minimise their suffering. Through exploring her students’ work, He-Hua can share a sense of their experiences.

By mastering traditional Chinese techniques like ink drawing and ancient motifs like lotus flowers and Buddhas, He He preserves cherished, slowly disappearing art forms. Through practicing and perpetuating these pure, beautiful crafts of her heritage, she hopes to help future generations fall in love with them, too. They’ve been perfected over thousands of years and she is carrying them forward into the future.

He He’s creative take on audacity? While preserving these ancient cultural traditions, she also takes liberties with breaking them in her personal artistic practice.