VOL.1
CICI: Crafting Moments of Freedom
CICI Xiang Yejing, a model and actress, who chose to study art in the UK at the peak of her career.
Upon returning to China, she became a gallery partner and art media professional.
This professional diversity has shaped her liberating and enriching journey.
In this episode of So GROTTO, we invited CICI to share her experiences navigating between fashion and art,
and how she stepped beyond her comfort zone to create her own "moments of freedom."
Her creativity and exploration in both career and life spring from a deeply curious heart — an endless wonder for the untried and unknown, which is also her wellspring of energy. She also encourages everyone to carve out personal space for seemingly insignificant activities, even aimless wandering, as these may spark unexpected creativity.
Q&A
Q1: Beyond your work as a model and actress, what unique significance does your role as an art ambassador hold for you?
When I was in middle school, I began independently exploring the works of various artists, and they moved me profoundly. That experience led me to decide to study art history in university. After graduating and returning to China, I established my own art platform. I aspire to be an art ambassador, sharing remarkable artworks with everyone. Reflecting on my journey, I realize how deeply I've been touched and encouraged by art - and now I wish to become a bridge, using my platform to move more people, spark interest in art, and help others connect with it in their daily lives. Ultimately, I hope to make everyday life richer through these encounters.
Q2: Are you a person with strong curiosity in daily life?
Yes, I'm genuinely curious about all the unexplored and uncharted territories in life. To me, curiosity is fundamental to existence - it ignites passion, and together they form the very essence of human vitality. Curiosity has become the compass guiding me toward freedom.
Q3: Your profession allows considerable creative freedom compared to most people's jobs. Does this creativity naturally extend into your personal life as well?
Indeed, that's true. Initially, my work wasn't entirely about creation - it involved continuous learning and careful observation, sifting through vast amounts of information to extract what resonated with me.
Gradually, through accumulation, I developed my own form of expression - like deciding which pose to strike or what atmosphere to evoke. I came to realize that even these subtle decisions contain delicate moments of creativity.
As for creativity in daily life, it may stem more from sensitivity - a tendency to seek inspiration through emotional and intuitive thinking. I consciously maintain this attentiveness in life, carving out spaces for myself. Beyond work, I spend my remaining time, for example, immersing myself in nature, wandering aimlessly through streets, reading poetry, or engaging in activities that some might consider abstract or without obvious purpose.
Q4: When you're creating, do you tend to rely more on emotional intuition or rational thinking?
When absorbing a large amount of information, both emotional and rational thinking undoubtedly coexist.
Although I operate primarily on an intuitive level when creating my own work, it can't be purely emotional - that could lead to chaos. Therefore, rational and objective filtering is essential. The ideal state is always a balance between emotion and reason.
Q5: What does your ideal state of freedom look like?
To me, freedom is a conscious departure into uncharted ways of living - yet it never means idleness. True freedom lives in that dopamine of fulfillment when you set a goal through exploration and bring it to life. For now, I see freedom as the ability to create my own personal "outing" in daily life.
“Freedom is not idleness.”