While most 19-year-olds are figuring out their freshman year, Yanran Chen(@yanran_chen_) is collaborating with sci-fi legend Liu Cixin and revolutionizing the contemporary art world.

Chen’s latest project transforms the complex, mind-bending universe of "The Three-Body Problem" into tangible sculptures that invite viewers to physically experience the abstract cosmic concepts that made Liu`s trilogy a global phenomenon.

Chen`s come up has been nothing short of crazy—from manga-inspired sketches to Balenciaga runways, from private sketchbooks to Issey Miyake campaigns. What sets her work apart is a distinctive aesthetic that seamlessly blends seemingly contradictory influences: the bold, direct visual storytelling of Japanese manga with the subtle, layered approach of French experimental cinema. This tension creates work that feels both immediately accessible and impossibly deep, pulling viewers into familiar territories only to disorient them with cosmic questions about existence.

Follow @radii_media to discover more emerging artists from Asia.

#radii #radiimedia #china #chinese #art #artist #chenyanran #liucixin #sculpture #complexcon #sculptureart #femaleartists #scifi #manga #threebodyproblem ...

When fashion literally hurts (In a good way): China’s love affair with Ita culture.

Have you noticed transparent backpacks covered in countless badges, decorated toilets, or cars transformed into shrines to anime characters? This is “Ita culture,” a maximalist phenomenon sweeping through China’s youth. Stemming from the Japanese word “itai” (痛) meaning “painful” or “cringeworthy,” the term playfully acknowledges the deliberate excess that defines this aesthetic movement.

Since taking root in China during the 2020s, Ita culture has developed its own unique lexicon and practices. The collectible pins and badges that adorn these items are called “谷子” (gǔzi) – a term phonetically borrowed from the English word “goods” – and refer to the various anime and manga merchandise fans proudly display. There’s even humor in the physical act of attaching these badges, as piercing the material is jokingly linked to the “painful” sensation referenced in the name.

Click the link in bio to read the full story.

#radii #radiimedia #china #chinese #trends #ita #culture #chineseyouths #youths #trend #anime #japanese #fashion #bagcharms #charms #itabag #痛包 ...