Yixi Wan (b. 1998, China) is a transdisciplinary artist and researcher based in Toronto. With a background in Chinese Literature and Language from Sichuan University and a Master’s in Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies from University of Toronto, Yixi’s work integrates photography, film, and installations to explore the complexities of memory, identity, and place. Her art delves into the embodied experiences of migration, the legacies of colonialism, and the histories of displacement, investigating how personal and collective cultural memories shape individual identities.
Drawing from her expertise in poetry and performance studies, Yixi employs visual and performance arts to connect people with their societies and natural surroundings. Her projects capture fleeting, poetic moments across diverse cultures, aiming to awaken empathy, healing, and understanding of shared yet often forgotten traumas. By evoking a sense of collective nostalgia, her work seeks to foster deeper connections between people and their environments. Yixi’s research also focuses on the adaptation and evolution of art across cultures, particularly examining how creative works transform through cross-cultural reinterpretation and media development. Through her interdisciplinary approach, she brings together diverse perspectives, highlighting the universal threads that connect human experiences.
