Chinese animator Qian-Hui Yu is presenting her solo exhibition 'The Delightful Unnamed' at London's Pocko Gallery, featuring a captivating collection of hand-drawn animations, ceramics, and mixed-media artworks. The exhibition, running until November 4 at 51A King Henry's Walk, showcases the creative journey of the Stoke-on-Trent-based artist through various artistic mediums that reflect her personal experiences and cultural exploration.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is Yu's acclaimed short film 'The Statue in the Garden,' created in collaboration with Animate Projects and supported by the BFI Network and Film Hub Midlands. The animation has been making rounds at film festivals across the UK and internationally, demonstrating Yu's distinctive hand-drawn, frame-by-frame animation style that perfectly complements the personal nature of her storytelling.
'The story is rooted in my own experience after I moved to Stoke-on-Trent,' Yu explained. 'I didn't know anyone at the time, so I wrote this story, and in it, the main character ends up traveling through time. Researching the scenes helped me to understand the history of Stoke, and how the character was able to deal with her own fears also helped me to find a sense of belonging in my new surroundings, in a way.'
The narrative incorporates the rich history of Stoke's pottery industry, known as the Potteries, through the symbolic presence of a small dog statue. During the development of her film, Yu physically sculpted this dog, which was inspired by an artifact in the British Museum that had been gifted to Britain by one of China's Han emperors. She recreated the piece in her home studio and had it fired in an Anagama wood-fired kiln in Oxford.
'I find ceramics fills the gap in my creativity that animation can't,' Yu shared. 'Both are made by hand, but ceramics are something I can make in real life. It teaches me many things – that making art can be practical, experimental, organic, quiet but expressive.' This exploration of ceramics represents a significant expansion of her artistic practice beyond traditional animation.
The pottery connection extends through a series of mixed-media works created during Yu's residency at ACAVA Spode, the historic pottery factory in Stoke. These pieces include collages and ink paintings that demonstrate her experimental approach to visual storytelling. 'I was exploring new materials and wanted to focus more on graphic design before making them into animations. They are all very experimental, and I hope they can help reshape my visual language in general,' she noted.
Visitors to the exhibition will notice a recurring feline character throughout Yu's posters, prints, illustrations, and collage works. The artist has a particular fondness for drawing cats, with most of her feline subjects based on her own pet, Chuko. 'She is the queen of my family,' Yu said affectionately. 'When I want to test a new technique or just draw for practice, I open my photo album, and Chuko always comes to the top. She's my natural model and my precious friend.'
The creative momentum generated by 'The Statue in the Garden' and Yu's Stoke-on-Trent explorations has fueled various projects over the past year. Upcoming works include a bag collection, book cover illustrations, and several artist collaborations that are yet to be revealed. The success of her short film has opened new avenues for her artistic expression across multiple mediums.
'The Statue in the Garden' is scheduled to be featured at the London International Animation Festival 2025, which will take place from November 25 to December 7 at various venues throughout the city and online. This prestigious platform will provide additional exposure for Yu's unique animation style and storytelling approach, further establishing her presence in the international animation community.
