Jizhuo Li on The Perfect Human Being and the Illusion of Perfection

I chose to participate because of the openness and creativity reflected in this competition. I believe creativity is more important than ever in today’s art and design landscape.

To me, creativity is never a solitary process—it thrives through the exchange of ideas. Competitions like this offer a valuable opportunity to understand different perspectives while staying attuned to new ideas and experimentation.

I attribute my work to my background in fashion design, which provided a well-rounded education not only in the making of garments, but also in their conceptual development—the social, cultural, and personal factors that shape each piece.

My tendency to explore multiple directions has also been valuable, as I often incorporate techniques from fields beyond fashion into my work. I believe this cross-disciplinary approach is essential in today’s fashion industry, where ideas are shaped through collaboration and influenced by perspectives outside of fashion.

To say that passion sets my work apart would be an understatement. While specific elements and strategies may evolve over time, passion, for me, means dedicating extra care to every step of the process—because designing and producing are things I genuinely enjoy, and that attention, sustained over time, becomes something significant.

I strive to create garments that best serve my storytelling, from shaping the posture of the models to complete each look to engaging closely with filming and photography to find angles that align with the concept. These details may seem small, but together they form work that I find deeply fulfilling.

In The Perfect Human Being, one of the main challenges was maintaining a cohesive theme while navigating the many ideas I wanted to explore. There were countless details I could have developed, but it was essential to stay focused on the overall tone and avoid overwhelming the audience.

I hope to connect with like-minded artists to collaborate with, regardless of discipline. I enjoy working across fields to learn, exchange ideas, and continue growing both creatively and personally.

I’ve received a great deal of support from those around me, along with a growing sense of anticipation as I worked on this project—people often expressed, “We really want to know what happens next.” That kind of curiosity became a powerful source of motivation throughout the process.

I believe that, at its core, you have to genuinely enjoy what you do—and enjoy it enough to stay committed over time. While everyone’s process and circumstances are different, that sense of enjoyment often helps you find an approach that truly works for you.

I believe that embracing change is essential for anyone in the creative industry. It opens up new ways to experiment, explore ideas, and communicate with others. I look forward to what the future has to offer.

Taking the first step can be intimidating, but it’s often where great ideas begin. You may already have one within you—your work has the power to inspire someone.

Everyone is doing such incredible work—it feels like I get to know a part of each creator through what they share. Their work inspires me to grow as a creative, and I look forward to seeing what comes next.

I would like to thank Turbulence Creative, a team dedicated to supporting artists through technical expertise. They assisted me in developing a spinning mechanical element for my work, which was incredibly valuable.

A living doll. In this project, I explore the idea of overwhelming the wearer, shaping them into a doll-like figure to reflect the act of molding others and overriding their autonomy.

In the future, I’d like to translate my ideas and creativity into more wearable forms. I aim to create pieces that integrate into the wearer’s everyday life, and I look forward to developing new videos that capture their essence.