Artist Interview: Yiting Liu

Yiting Liu is an XR developer and designer who intertwines a personal odyssey with artistic innovation. Yearning for independence, the artist moved to the United States at 18 and started her creative journey that celebrates her intrinsic connection to community and power of personal freedom.

Alongside dance, music, and poetry, the artist creates AR experiences and simulations where technology meets human experience, emphasizing empathy and understanding. After completing her studies at NYU and UW-Madison, she has worked as a mentor at ITP Camp and collaborated with companies like Accenture and Disney.

We asked Yiting about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

Mood for Food by Yiting Liu — *Digital Art by Yiting Liu: Still from Mood for Food*

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field?

From Hunan's piano keys to America's computer keyboards, my journey in Extended reality (XR) development bridges not just continents but passions. At 18, my move to America marked a shift from music to marketing and film, igniting a fascination with storytelling through moving images. An introduction to wearable technology at NYU melded my artistic and technological sides, leading to mastery in tools like Unity and Unreal Engine. Now, leading Sia Partners' immersive tech team, I've evolved from musician to XR innovator.

'Sun and Us' emerged during the pandemic, a time when the world felt paused and disconnected. In this interactive web experience, users engage with field recordings from across the globe, creating a unique rhythm through their body movements. This project became a lifeline for many, connecting them to the vibrant sounds of life they missed. It resonated deeply at the ITP Winter Show in 2020 and One Mile Gallery's "Electric Feelings", where users described feeling a profound connection to a world they couldn't physically reach.

'Dear Nobody', my VR love letter, is an intimate journey through my healing from childhood trauma. Users enter a virtual world where 'Nobody', my digital persona, guides them through various emotional stages. Each stage is filled with orbs that, when held close, share my raw, unfiltered experiences. This immersive storytelling struck a chord with users, many of whom felt a powerful kinship with 'Nobody', finding comfort and understanding in our shared vulnerabilities. The feedback was touching, with thousands users expressing a deep emotional connection and a feeling of being less alone in their struggles.

“These projects symbolize my commitment to using technology for emotional connection and community building. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue creating works that resonate with people’s hearts and foster deeper communication within communities.”

*Digital Art by Yiting Liu: Dear Nobody*

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork?

I feel and then I create. I want to emphasize a sense of belonging in my work as I have been looking for it throughout my life. In Vibes, I want to make sure other musicians feel the sense of belonging and not left out in the world of fast attention economy and rapid content creation. In LifelinesAR, I want to allow people in therapy sessions feel more at ease with the tools and the real-time I have the urge to share and communicate with others in various art forms. I tend to translate my feelings through life events into the mediums of music, poetry, and digital arts. I in particular enjoy exploring the intention behind one’s actions and how story telling can help paint the picture so it is relatable for others.

*Digital Art by Yiting Liu: Still from LifelinesAR*

What is an event which you consider a milestone in your digital art career?

Creating 'Lifelines AR' for the MIT Reality Hack in 2022 was a pivotal chapter in my journey. This innovative AR tool, aimed at transforming therapy sessions, won the Grand Prize in Wellness where I was the Lead Unity Developer and Designer. It allows therapists and clients to visualize and interact with significant life moments, enhancing the therapeutic process. Using HoloLens 2, clients can revisit important memories, enhancing communication with therapists. It's a system that not only supports therapy sessions but also records them, fostering continuity and deeper connections. This recognition was not just an honor, it also validated my belief in the power of technology profoundly impacting healthcare. It fueled my passion for continuing to explore ways in which technology can contribute positively to people's lives and well-being.

Can you tell us about some of your favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

My favorite project is very deeply personal one: ‘Dear Nobody’. I poured my own story of vulnerability and healing. It’s not just a technological marvel; it's a deeply personal journey shaped by my childhood experiences. This VR experience is a love letter to self-acceptance, blending narratives from my poetry and the ambient music I composed, each note and word echoing my path to healing.

*Digital Art by Yiting Liu: Still from Dear Nobody*

Have you ever felt that deep urge to connect with others who share your experiences? That's what drove me to create 'Nobody', a virtual embodiment of my inner child. In this world, she greets you with a blend of shyness and wonder, guiding you through a labyrinth of emotions. Each stage in 'Dear Nobody' is a world unto itself, filled with orbs that carry the essence of my thoughts, my struggles, and my growth. Holding these orbs close, you hear 'Nobody's' voice – my voice – sharing the raw, unfiltered emotions of my journey.

What moved me the most was how people who ventured into this VR space found a piece of themselves in 'Nobody'. They emerged feeling less alone, more understood – a testament to the power of sharing one's story. For me, the true success of 'Dear Nobody' lies in its ability to gently open hearts, allowing people to embrace their vulnerabilities just as I did. This project isn't just an artistic endeavor; it's a step towards building a supportive community, a space for collective healing and understanding.

Yiting in front of DearNobody — *Yiting in front of Dear Nobody*

Can you tell us about the AI music video app you’re building?

I have an obsession to always create. I gave in to my desire to combine my dual passions for music and technology so that "Vibes", the music video generator from artificial intelligence (AI) and music input, gets to exist. Currently in beta, it is more than just a project; it is a part of my soul. As a musician, I've always been captivated by the magic of music videos, but I knew the creation process could be daunting, especially for independent artists. "Vibes" was my answer to this challenge—a tool that empowers artists to visually articulate their music by intuitively transforming audio into compelling visual narratives. Seeing artists use it, like Senaida for "Orbital XVI", and hearing their stories of empowerment, has been incredibly fulfilling.

“It’s not just about simplifying video production; it’s about giving artists the freedom to express themselves, to bring their music to life visually without the usual barriers. This journey with “Vibes”, watching it help artists blossom, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.”

Working on Vibes, I wanted to create an environment where the technical process of video-making does not overshadow an artist's creative spark. The application's design is intuitive, yet it opens up a world of artistic possibilities. As artists experiment with it, transforming their music into a visual narrative, their feedback has been heartwarming—they are amazed by the efficiency of Vibes and how it elevates their musical storytelling. This reaction has been my guiding light, confirming that Vibes isn't just a tool; it's a bridge connecting music and visual art in new, exciting ways.

*Digital Art by Yiting Liu: OrbitalXVI, Still from Vibes*

This tool has become a game-changer, especially for emerging artists, democratizing the music video production process and opening new avenues for creative storytelling. Seeing the impact of "Vibes" has been a profound moment for me. I am proud that this project has gained extensive attention from musicians, artists and creatives, 50k impressions on LinkedIn and Instagram through the posts on this project and counting. Every positive response, every artist who finds their voice through "Vibes", reinforces my commitment to this path. My future endeavors include refining "Vibes" for a broader audience and continuing to explore the synergy of technology, music, and community. This isn't just technology; it's a new chapter in musical expression.

Looking ahead, I will continue exploring the intersection of technology and community. It is rewarding to use technology to do social good for people in need. I want to make the world a better place and make peoples life easier. I have the unsatiated drive to always create and connect as many people together as I can in this life time and I will never stop.

*Digital Art by Yiting Liu: Interface of Vibes*

How would you say your other art practices like dance and music have an impact on your digital art skills?

Art, in its myriad forms, deeply influences my digital creations. My journey across dance, music, and even culinary arts isn't just a pastime; it's the essence that shapes my digital canvas.

I’ve cherished art's boundless nature since childhood, starting with piano lessons under Asian familial guidance. These early disciplines now subtly guide my digital design, blending structure with the freedom of improvisation. Each piece of digital art I create carries a hint of this harmony.

Pole dancing, a recent endeavor, has taught me the beauty of imperfection and resilience. This acceptance of flaws translates into my digital work, where perfection is not the goal, but rather the expression of authenticity and strength.

“My creative process is less about rigid goals and more about enjoying the journey. In developing projects like Vibes, I focus on the joy of creation rather than the pressure of deadlines. This approach has led to more fulfilling experiences in research, programming, and design.”

Art for me is a dialogue across various disciplines. Influences from music, philosophy, and literature find their way into my digital art, creating a tapestry rich with personal experiences and insights. Each project is a narrative, a piece of me expressed through pixels and code.

What else fills your time when you’re not creating art?

I love cooking and hosting dinner parties. It's another form of creativity and improv that I can consume with and gather people around to share the feeling of belonging in a community. I find cooking meditative especially when I am cooking alone. I like the quiet room, the rinsing, the sound of cutting and grinding, the sizzling when the ingredients trust fall into the wok, and the smell of aromatics. It is more like an ASMR of immersive experience. I also love the bonding with friends when we cook together. I am looking forward to bonding with more interesting people while expanding my found family here in New York!