Students & Alumni — Fine Art

Rosie Ruoxi

Rosie Ruoxi framed by designs from her artwork

Rosie graduated from our MA Fine Art in 2022, and is now establishing herself as a practising artist in China, as well as preparing for her PhD.

What have you been doing since graduating from ARU?

Currently, I am setting up a small team in China, and also applying for a PhD course. My artistic research focuses on promoting the innovative combination of Chinese non-heritage culture of ‘Nv Shu’, which is a woman-only secret language and contemporary art. My interest is to observe the details of nature and daily life, female individual and collective consciousness, intimate relationship, semiotics, and psychology. My art creations are mainly in the form of paintings and art installations.

Images of Rosie's movable installation "Windows", four woodcut illustrations on wheels.

"Windows", Rosie Li, Movable installation, 2019, 90cm x 90cm x 90cm*4

What inspired you to do what you do now?

When I was studying the MA Fine Art, through the study of the history and creation of Western contemporary art and the background of Chinese women's experiences, I found out about this secret language only use by women - ‘Nv Shu’. I was fascinated by the script, language and the historical stories of women behind ‘Nv Shu’. Therefore, the research topic in my MA project was "How Can ‘Craftivism’ and the Chinese Secret Language of ‘Nv Shu’ Demonstrate Women Self-awareness and Collective Consciousness in Art Practice?" My postgraduate studies have guided me to experiment with different forms of art practice. I started to create the artwork in a series called ‘Girlism’.  Recently I continued working on the general direction of integrating non-heritage culture (mainly in Nv Shu) and contemporary art, and have carried out cross-disciplinary art projects, exhibitions, and a study tour of research and education.

What’s the most valuable thing you took away from your education?

I treasure every communication and contact I had with my Course Leader Veronique Chance. To share a few unforgettable moments: I was studying abroad during a very serious epidemic, I was anxious because people around me discouraged the unstable environment abroad. However, Veronique kept contact with me online on her own time. Even during the period of frequent strikes in various industries in the UK, she did not miss a single day of work. On the first day of my arrival in Cambridge, we met in a cafe to talk about postgraduate study planning. It’s meaningful and surprising that in the last week of graduation, when I was preparing to go back to China, we still met in that same cafe to talk about achievements and future plans. I saw in her the love and persistence of an artist for art, but also the love and responsibility of a teacher for teaching and students.

Studying in a foreign country is not only about obtaining a degree, but also about getting along with different environments and people, and witnessing differents lives, which makes me clearer about my future plans and goals.

Rosie Ruoxi and Veronique Chance on Mill Road, Cambridge

Rosie and Veronique

Which aspects of the course most helped your career development, and why?

Personally, I liked the teaching framework of Cambridge School of Art’s MA Fine Art programme very much, because it let me learn the knowledge of art in a practical and systematic way. The first module, Making Methods, opened up a new dimension about contemporary art for me. The module Visual Practice helped me understand the importance of the process of creative research.

In the Master’s Dissertation, Course Leader Veronique and tutor Debbie Lauder's guidance played an important role for me to publish my dissertation of “How Can ‘Craftivism’ and the Chinese Secret Language of ‘Nv Shu’ Demonstrate Women Self-awareness and Collective Consciousness in Art Practice” with American and Chinese publishers afterwards.

The last module, Master's Project, combined theoretical research with creative work over the course of a year, and I learned how to combine artwork with the concept of “site-specific” in the degree show. Overall, the art education and practice I received during my postgraduate studies have allowed me to gradually understand what an artist's creative process is, and find my own art language and development.

What piece of advice would you give to your younger self?

Be more determined, more believe in yourself, live more courageously.

Intro screen for Girlism video featuring Rosie Ruoxi

"Girlism" video, 2019

What was your favourite thing about studying in Cambridge, and what did you learn about the city that other people might not know?

Cambridge is a place with a profound humanistic and academic environment. Once I was invited to share my graduation work and research culture about “Nv Shu” with scholars from the Centre for Latin American Cultural Studies at the University of Cambridge, which made me feel that is a very valuable experience to do artworks and then also communicate with many excellent people in different disciplinary fields. During the graduation exhibition, I met a scholar and we had a good conversation and got to know each other very well. He gave me a unique insight into Chinese culture of “Nv Shu”, which let me study the combination of “Nv Shu” and contemporary art in more depth.

What projects are you currently working on, both at work and outside?

Now at this stage, I am working on my own business and applying for a PhD. From my research and practice, I am constantly expanding the path of non-heritage culture “Nv Shu” and contemporary art in a deep and creative way.

This year I spent a year travelling to Jiangyong, Hunan province, the birthplace of “Nv Shu”, actively contacting “Nv Shu” inheritors. In the process of doing field research, I organised an “Nv Shu and contemporary art” study tour for international school students, including lectures, business proposals, international exhibitions, art residencies and other activities. Many people have learnt about “Nv Shu” through my various methods of propaganda. Even more, people have better understood the importance of contemporary art. Above all, I now have a clearer plan and motivation for my future development.

Art installation with tv playing Girlism video in room hung with drapes and lit with tube lights
Sculpted head draped with white material
Rosie peering from behind installation artwork
Nine screenshots from "Girlism" video, questioning role of the girl in the Chinese family
Chinese-style artwork behind upside-down workbench
Chinese-style wall painting lit up behind wooden heptagons
Blue and white Chinese-style artwork of body split in two
Blue and white Chinese-style artwork of plants growing from split body
Artwork of two eyes on black background either side of fanged mouth in workbenches
Two women working working on artwork of netted threads with paper leaves attached
Posed photo of group of women holding banners outside among trees
Women painting Chinese characters on long paper strip outside
Woman caught in mesh of red threads dancing in small courtyard
Woman playing harp in gallery next to Rosie's "Girlism - Home" painting with visitors watching.
"Girlism", Rosie Li, Installation with video, 2019 "Girlism", Rosie Li, Installation, 2019 "Girlism", Rosie Li, Installation, 2019 "Girlism" video stills "Girlism - Inner World", Rosie Li Immersive Installation, 2022 "Girlism - Inner World", Rosie Li, Immersive Installation, 2022, Wall painting: 4mx6m "Girlism - Inner World", Rosie Li, Immersive Installation, 2022, Painting: soft velvet, 3mx1.64m "Girlism - Inner World", Rosie Li, Immersive Installation, 2022, Painting: soft velvet, 3mx1.64m "Girlism - Home", Rosie Li, 2022, Painting: soft velvet, 3mx1.64m Study Tour Study Tour Study Tour Study Tour Exhibition in Los Angeles

Where now?

Paper folded into shape of seashellARU websiteMA Fine Art

Transform and refine your fine art or printmaking practice and professional approach as an artist. Extend your practical, contextual and research skills in a constructive, discursive and critical environment.

Rosie RuoxiInstagram@Rosieyya

Artist and Researcher about feminine power and Nv Shu (a secret language only used by women).

Ian Wolter working on scultpures of peopleOur peopleIan Wolter

Ian Wolter graduated from our BA (Hons) Fine Art in 2015. Since then he has been awarded many high profile commissions and awards, including the Art Laguna Prize.