Tianyin Liu
My name is Tianyin, I was born and raised in mainland China, and now live and work in Hong Kong. On January 16th, 2019, I finally landed in Indianapolis for the first time in my life after a 12-hours flight and 3-hour transit. My brain was excited and awake, but my body was still in the Asian time-zone, tired and asleep. Jet lag was my worst enemy, but after five virtual residencies, I had to say that I miss the long travels and adjusting to a new time zone. There was more gain than pain, I miss the tranquility of the campus after snowfall, the warm smiles of peers and teachers, the quiet symphony of collaborative art-making, and so many more. For me, it was a bold move to embark on a journey of becoming an art therapist, taking the hybrid program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) while having a full-time job in Hong Kong. It is challenging yet well worth it, and I am thankful for all the stretches, pain, and growth I experienced through this journey.
My compass was not always set for this path. As much as I love psychology and use art for self-expression, I never see myself being a therapist/counselor/clinical psychologist, because I thought these jobs were for people who have a slick tongue, but I did not have it. Turned out I had misconceptions in many ways. Three years at SMWC enabled me to know about art therapy and myself, equipped me with knowledge and skills, and accelerated the transformation. I am now more in tune with myself, my cultural roots, my value and belief systems. I am more open to the outside world, appreciative of individual differences, and more confident in setting boundaries while maintaining strong bonds. Art making is still an invaluable avenue for my self-expression, and it has also become a means for relating and connecting to others and this world. My artworks were inspired by my training in neuroscience and experience about growth (flourishing brain), spiritual and metaphorical meanings of water (be water), bamboo (plant a seed), and lotus (unfold), clients’ resilience (footsteps), and COVID’s impact (fly), and I incorporated some materials (e.g., Chinese folding fan) and technique (e.g., origami) that are culturally relevant to me.
Finally, to echo the beginning of this sharing, if I may use a long-haul flight as an analogy to my journey of becoming an art therapist:
Set the compass and fill the tanks, it is time to take off
Spread the wings and ride on the wind
On pleasant days, glide through the clouds
In rough times, stay firm and trust the process
Endure the storm, the turbulence, and the pathos of unknown
A flourishing land is in sight, it is time to land
Flourishing Brain – Tianyin Liu
Gold sharpie on black cardboard
Trained as a cognitive psychologist, I have always been interested in how our brain functions in reaction to this world. Embarking on this journey of becoming an art therapist has exposed me to many new experiences, which is the best non-invasive brain stimulation so far, and I bet the neurons in my brain are thankful for the decision they made.Be Like Water – Tianyin Liu
Wire (form the Chinese character of “water”), acrylic, resin
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it…Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless, like water.”– Bruce LeePlant a Seed – Tianyin Liu
Carved black cardboard, small light bulbs
Plant a seed, water it, and fertilize it for yours, and nothing happens. Until the fifth year it grows ninety feet in six weeks. A bamboo takes years to grow, flourishing overnight is years in the making.Fly
Mask, paper, tray, white acrylic, sand texture medium
Despite the travel restrictions, my heart is free.Journey
Rice paper scroll (5 meters), watercolor, various brushes
Using my body to paint and embracing the fluidity and uncertainty.Unfold
Chinese folding fan, watercolor, sharpie
“As the lotus rises on its stalk unsoiled by the mud and water, so the wise one speaks of peace and is unstained by the opinions of the world.” – BuddhaLucky
Bamboo strips, molding clay
This is a collective piece made by 10 participants from an art therapy group that I led. To get them familiarized with the art material (clay), I invited them to pick a color they like and make a strip. The group members then came up with the idea of putting the strips together to make the Chinese character “Luck”. I felt lucky and blessed to have walked the therapeutic journey with them, and I used bamboo strips to make the container that holds this character.Footsteps
Color pencil, soft pastel, Chinese ink, oil pastel, alcohol ink, sketch paper, rice paper, canvas paper, photo paper
My clients were my teachers aside my course instructors and peers, and they taught me how resilient and beautiful life can be despite the obstacles. A client at a young age lost all his toes and majority of his fingers due to a rare inherited disease, and he continues to live and express with what he has. One step at a time.
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