About

Ying Yi Wu

I am a visual artist, social designer, and storyteller working on the cutting edge of visual arts and performance arts. Inspired by nature, especially botanical materials, I explore what nature does to us sensorially. By taking on an unconventional perspective of healing rituals, I create both visual impressions and sensory experiences by playing with dried flowers and other botanical materials.

My artistic interests integrate nature, Chinese mythology, and the human body. By crossing the boundary between the present and mythical time, I am keen to garden a third space that encourages the universal understanding of creating, transforming, and healing. I connect my creative practices with social dimensions of public well-being and collective healing. Next to developing my projects, I share the secret of my ‘kitchen’ through courses and workshops.

I have roots in China, where mountains and rivers are indispensable landscapes in my youth. Based in the Netherlands since 2016, I hold MA in Fine Art and Design - Scenography at HKU (Hogeschool voor de kunsten Utrecht) in 2018. I also have a background in Choreography and Landscape design.

Want to know Ying Yi’s vision of practicing Botanical Art?

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Education / Programme:

September 2016 - September 2018
HKU University of the Arts, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MA degree in Fine art and design - Scenography.

September 2009 - July 2013
Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
Bachelor in Landscape design.

2019
Summer school.
Medical Humanities, De Nieuwe Utrechtse School.

Grant/Fund:

2025 ‘Eet Maar’, Gemeente Amersfoort.
2025 ‘Travel Tea Table’, het Cultuurfonds, Gemeente Amersfoort, Voordekunst.
2023 ‘Creating Life’, het Cultuurfonds, K.F. Hein Fonds, Gemeente Amersfoort, Voordekunst.
2022 ‘Knuffel/Hug/拥抱’ @ CareFull, Gemeente Utrecht, Stichting Art Utrecht. (Mondriaan fonds)
2022 ‘There you are’, Gemeente Utrecht.
2022 ‘Dear Ghost’, Dance performance, Gemeente Utrecht and Herstelfonds HKU.

Exhibition:

2024

November 15, 2024 - March 21, 2025
‘Buiten Gewoon’, Oudegracht 357, Utrecht, Solo show.
June 3 - June 25
‘Ode to Nu Wa’, De Kargadoor, Utrecht, Solo show.
January 18th - January 21st
‘Creating Life ’, Solo show, Gastatelier De Pionier, Amersfoort

2023

May 2th - May 25th
‘Re-Union’, Solo show, Stadhuis Utrecht.
March 18th - May 15th
‘Lucky Rabbit’, part of art route ‘De Wijk In’ organised by ‘ZIMIHC theater Utrecht’, De krakeling Utrecht.

2022

Sep 10th - Oct 30th
‘Knuffel/Hug/拥抱’, part of art route CareFull organised by Stichting Art Utrecht, Bibliotheek Neude Utrecht.
March 4th - May 30th
‘There you are’, Solo show, HKU X, Utrecht.
Feb 2th - Feb 25th
‘Burgemeestersportret van Jan van Zanen’, Group show, Stadhuis Utrecht.

Performance/Presentation:

2025

May 17th
Smell Game, De Voorkamer, Utrecht.
May 10th
‘Travel Tea Table’, in co-creation with Atelier De Moerbei, Molen de Ster, Utrecht.

2024

January 11
‘EaT mY arT’, dinner for K.F. Hein Fonds.

2023

September 9 & 10
‘EaT mY arT’, part of Uitfeest Utrecht 2023, curated by HKU MAFA alumni MSP(Mutual Support Platform), Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons.
July 14 — 16
‘Be my Guest’, part of NNNFAIR 2023, curated by Non Native Native, Framer Framed Amsterdam.
April 12th
‘Dry flower food art - A fresh memory with Osmanthus’, part of art route ‘De Wijk In’ organised by ZIMIHC, ZIMIHC theater Wittevrouwen.

2022

October 18
Guided tour, expo ‘Knuffel/Hug/拥抱’, part of HKU Talk ‘Because we care’, Bibliotheek Neude.

September 17
‘One-to-one tea ceremonies’, Bibliotheek Neude Utrecht, part of art route ‘Care Full’, curated by Stichting Art Utrecht.
March 4
‘One-to-one tea ceremonies’ of expo ‘There you are’, A special opening during the corona time, HKU X.

Artist-in-residence

2025
‘Travel Tea Table’, Beeldhouwatelier De Moerbei, Utrecht.
2023 - 2024
‘Creating Life’, gastatelier De Pionier, Amersfoort. Made possible by K.F. Hein Fonds in collaboration with De Plaatsmaker and Gemeente Amersfoort.
2023
‘Living Together Apart’, writing residency, Landgoed Noorderheide. Made possible by Stichting Live Your Story and Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds.
2021
‘Dear Ghost’, Het Huis Utrecht & Pieter Baan Centrum Utrecht.

Teaching - Botanical Art

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2025 -

Volksuniversiteit Utrecht
Parnassos cultuurcentrum, Utrecht University
Volksuniversiteit Amersfoort
KunstenHuis Idea
Steck Utrecht
Utrecht Natuurlijk

2024 -

Botanical Art (Oshibana) Workshops, (18+) Dille & Kamille
Botanical Art (Oshibana) Workshops, (5+) Zomerfeest & Herfstfeest bij IJsclub Siberia

Storytelling/Host (with humor)

2025

'Once a Dancer, Half a Swimmer Chapter 2', Tell me More Storytelling night, ‘Harvest’, Theater De Generator, Leiden.
Host, Tell me More Storytelling night, ‘Hot& Steamy’, Theater De Generator, Leiden.

2024

Moderator/Host, concert ‘Hespèrion XXI and friends / Jordi Savall - A sea of music’, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht.
‘Once a Dancer, Half a Swimmer’, Storytelling, Mezrab Amsterdam, De Nijverheid, Stadsklooster Utrecht, Theater De Generator Leiden.
‘My Hair Theory’, Storytelling, Mezrab Amsterdam.

2022 -

Performer, ‘Kleurles’ van Stichting Live Your Story.

Exhibition (without dry flowers):

Mail hello@yingyi.art for more.

Performance/Installation (without dry flowers):

If you are up for a tea talk.

Publication/Media:

Public events:

2025 Open day | Volksuniversiteit Amersfoort | @Johanneskerk Amersfoort
2024 Opening | ‘Buiten Gewoon’ | @ Oudegracht 357
2024 Opening | ‘Ode to Nu Wa’ | @ De Kargadoor
2023 Open atelier | Artist-in-residence | Gastatelier De Pionier | @ K.F.Hein Fonds
2023 Stand-up Comedy | ‘Be my Guest’ | NNNFair 2023 | Framer Framed Amsterdam
2023 One-to-one tea ceremonies | ‘Living Together Apart’ | Tour 2 @ De Kargadoor
2023 Stand-up Comedy | ‘Living Together Apart’ | Culturele Zondagen: Catch of the day | De Kargadoor
2023 One-to-one tea ceremonies | ‘Living Together Apart’ | Tour 1 @ Casco Art Institute
2023 One-to-one tea ceremonies | Winter Burendag | Johannescentrum Utrecht
2022 Opening ritual of expo ‘Knuffel’ | Interactive performances | Bibliotheek Neude
2022 One-to-one tea ceremonies of expo ‘Knuffel’ | Intimate dialouges | Bibliotheek Neude
2022 One-to-one tea ceremonies of expo ‘There you are’ | A special opening during the corona time | HKU
2022 Guided tour of expo ‘Knuffel/Hug/拥抱’ | HKU Talk ‘Because we care’ | Bibliotheek Neude