Tianjun Li (b. 1999, China), also known as Timjune, is a Helsinki-based interdisciplinary artist and musician with a primary focus on photography, sound, and performance. Currently, Timjune is pursuing a master degree in Visual Cultures, Curating, Contemporary Art, and Sound in New Media (Minor) at Aalto University in Finland.
Timjune's artistic practice encompasses the interplay of various photographic subjects, sonic elements, and vocal experiments. His works explore alternative narratives of the human-nature relationship within contemporary phenomena. Through reconstructing photography and sound, he re-imagines surreal, fable-like utopias rooted in harsh realities, illuminating parallel trajectories between marginalized individuals and the ever-changing natural environment in the Anthropocene era.
Timjune's works have been showcased in exhibitions across the globe, including Contemporary Image Museum (CN), PhotoSCHWEIZ Festival (CH)), Photometria International Photography Festival (GR), Paris Photo Day (FR) and cities such as Paris, New York, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Helsinki, Berlin, and London. He is also one of the youngest artists to host a solo exhibition in South China. Recently, Timjune was honored with several awards, including the 1st Prize in the New Talents of Belgrade Photo Month 2023 and 1839 Photography Award. He has performed and showcased his Photography - sound project Today, Tomorrow, and the Tales from the Wind at the OPIA Launch Night (presented by musician Ólafur Arnalds) at Silent Green Berlin, Künstlerstadt Kalbe, Crypt Gallery London, SIM Residency Reykjavik, and Finnish Museum of Theatre. Furthermore, he recently selected as the cover artist of "Modern Weekly" Magazine and he has been selected as the one of the solo show artists at Photo North - Northern Photographic Centre (FI) in 2024.
In addition to his fine art pursuits, Timjune collaborates with the music industry, creating album artwork and visuals for international musicians and renowned labels such as Warner Music Group.
Education
2022-Present
Visual Cultures, Curating, and Contemporary Art, Master of Art, Aalto University, Finland
Sound in New Media (Minor), Master of Art, Aalto University, Finland
2017-2021
Communication, Bachelor of Art, South China Normal University, China
Exhibitions
2024
- Solo exhibition at PhotoNorth - Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu (September, 2024)
- Directors Choice, photoSCHWEIZ, Zürich
- KREATIVITÄT DER LANGSAMKEIT, GISELA – Freier Kunstraum Lichtenberg, Berlin
- Togethrt: Poetic Asian Hands, Gaoshan Gallery, Helsinki
2023
- World Bieneial of Student Photography, Novi Sad
- 1839 Photography Award, Chengdu International Photography Festival, Contemporary Image Museum, Chengdu
- World Bieneial of Student Photography, Novi Sad
- OPIA Launch Event Gallery (Presented by Ólafur Arnalds), Silent Green Kulturquartier, Berlin
- Hamburg Portfolio Review, Public Space Exhibition, Altonaer Museum, Hamburg
- Photometria International Photography Festival, Loannina, Greece
- Single Shot Winner, Festival di Fotografia a Capri, Certosa San Glacomo, Capri
- Creativity in the Time of COVID-19: Art as a Tool for Combatting Inequity and Injustice, Buffalo Arts Studio, New York State
- Past & Present: Der Greif 15th Anniversary, Pinakothek der Moderne and ZIRKA, Munich
- Solo Exhibition, Space Place Gallery of Contemporary Art, Nizhny Tagil
- Living Room, Free City of Kalasatama Gallery, Helsinki
- Artistic Presentation in Vuosaari Ecologies, Villa Lill Kallvik, Helsinki
- New Talents (1st Prize Winner), Belgrade Photo Month, Kuca Legata Museum, Belgrade
- Schu1pture the 0ther Way, Vallian Panimo Gallery, Helsinki
2022
- Empty Lawn, Photography Group Exhibition, Banshan Gallery, Tokyo
2021
- Rêverie: Christophe Tissot & Tianjun Li Dual Solo Exhibition, Galerie Cipango, Paris
- Photo Days Paris 2021, Paris
- 8th Stars Project: Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tree Art Museum, Beijing
- Bushu Art Book Fair, Golden Union Surpass Space Expo, Shanghai
- Poetry of Life, C-Town Art Space, Nanjing
2020
- Hide and Seek Experimental Photography Exhibition, Banshan Gallery, Tokyo
- Film 500 Drift Photography Group Exhibition, Fuji X-SPACE, Shanghai
- Solitude: Edge and Consciousness, Gumei Art Center, Shanghai
- CHABF Chengdu Art Book Exhibition, A4 International Art Residency Center, Chengdu
- NABF Nanjing Art Book Fair, "Echo Project" Nanjing
- Ningbo International Photography Week, Ningbo
- 2020 Winter Exhibition, Echo Dark Gallery, Shenzhen
2019
- The Shapes of Hibernation, Tianjun Li Solo Exhibition, Smilology, Guangzhou
- RETURN Cross-Media Art Group Exhibition, Arbre Art Centre, Shenzhen
Artist in Residence
Performance and Programs
2023
2024
Winter Campus Residency, Künstlerstadt Kalbe, DE (Funded)
2023
SIM Artist Residency, Reykjavik, IS (Funded by Aalto Art and Media Grant)
Theatre in Palm Artist Residency, SW & FI (Funded by Creative Europe)
2021
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre& Portman Hotel Residency (Funded by Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival), CN
Aranya Eastern Rising Tide Photography Artist Residency Program (Funded by Aranya), CN
Photographic Artist Residency Program, Yan Art Gallery (Funded by A8 Design Center), CN
2020
Ripple: Artist-in-Residence Program, Spontaneous Art Village, Shanghai, CN
Artist Talk, SíM Meeting Room, Reykjavik
Excellence Award for 1839 Photography Award, China
Performance at PENTHOUSE Gallery, Helsinki
Performance at Polyphonic, Crypt Gallery, London
Performance of Today, Tomorrow, and the Tales from the Wind at Finnish Museum of Theatre, Helsinki
Photosynth Social Club: Summer Beat Camp & Sound Bathouse Performance, PIXELACHE Festival, Helsinki
Co-curator of “Fog is a cloud that touches the ground”, Helsinki
Selected Artist of Hamburg Portfolio Review, Hamburg
Single Shot Winner Exhibition, Festival di Fotografia a Capri, Certosa San Glacomo, Capri
Chicago Boys - While We Were Singing, They Were Dreaming, IHME Helsinki
Subjective Atlas of Finland, Subjective Editions, curated by Annelys Devet
2021
Connections Through Culture, China-British Art Links, British Council
Prize for Excellence at The One.art Global NFT Arts Competition
2020
Young Power Artist Program, BOBOSNAP China
2019
First Prize at Photography Competition, Art23 Contemporary Art Gallery
Guest Lecturer of Mipai Photography Summer Camp during the 8th Dali International Photography Exhibition
Interviews and Publications
假杂志 JIAZAZHI Feature Artcle, 2024
Viusal Dialogue, see-zeen Magazine, 2024
Agenda 2024, ISSP (Platform for Contemporary Photography, Riga), 2023
Featured Article, Ruskeat Tytöt, 2023
Artist Feature, see-zeen Magazine, 2023
Cover Artist, Modern Weekly 周末画报, November 2023
Photographer. ru, 2023
Foto Noviny 63, 2023
Black Camera, 2023
NOWNESS Asia, 2023
Spotlight Interview, Appreciation Journal, 2023
Subjective Atlas of Finland, Subjective Editions, 2023
Feature Article, BROAD Magazine, 2023
TORSO Magazine, Finland 2023
Personal Interview, Bestudio, Helsinki, 2023
Global Art Point, 2023
Humble Arts Foundation, 2023
Rotterdam Photo Festival 2023
Rotterdam Photo Festival 2022
Paris Photo Day 2021
Exhibition Book of 8th Stars Project: Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tree Art Museum, 2021
Interview: Tianjun Li: "Painting" with Photos, creating moments of fantasy, Guangzhou Daily, 2021
Cover Story & Artist Spotlight, SINK HOLLOW Magazine Spring Issue 2021
Interview on 500px, 2021
Reppink Selects Feature Artist, Broad Magazine, 2020-2021
Opening Screen Display on Douban/Tuchong App, 2020-2021
Cover Story& Interview:Tianjun Li: To Create a Moment in Fantasy, BLINK Magazine Vol. 040, 2020
Interview on What You Need, August, 2020
Online Exhibition, BIE, July. 2020
Young Power Art Programme Interview, BOBOSNAP Magazine Spring Issue 2021/ Fall Issue 2020
*BLINK Artist Project: Tianjun Li: The moment when photography is implemented is mysterious, BLINK Magazine Vol.034, 2019