Meet Artist Bojun Wei
GALIA VELEVA: INTERVIEW WITH SECOND PLACE PRIZE WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FiKVA AWARD FOR PAINTERS 2026 – BOJUN WEI
“My artistic vision lies at the intersection of human emotion and artificial intelligence, seeking to explore the deep philosophical questions and the delicate balance of our tech-driven future.”
Bojun Wei was born in 2003 and paints like someone who has listened very closely to the future. Gas masks turn into flowers of plastic and wire, sharks swim across a night-time zebra crossing, a girl in a white dress lies in the grass with an old telephone receiver against her ear. His figures are quiet, a little lost, and painted with a patience that feels almost old-fashioned. Our jury awarded him the Second Prize of the International FiKVA Award for Painters 2026, and we wanted to know more about the young painter from Taichung behind the work.
Q: Please, tell us a bit about your past. When and where were you born? Where did you grow up? And where do you live now? What was your childhood like? What have you done for a living?
I was born in 2003 and grew up in Taichung, Taiwan, where I currently live and work. I have loved drawing and painting since childhood, and becoming an artist has always been my dream. Growing up as a digital native during the boom of technology and artificial intelligence, my childhood was shaped by both traditional sketching and the rapid evolution of the digital world. Currently, I am a full-time artist. In this rapidly changing era, painting remains my continuous passion and my unique way of connecting with the world.
Q: What usually comes first in your work process as an artist: an idea, an emotion, a material, or simply curiosity?
What comes first is always an emotion. From there, I begin to delve into the source of that feeling, gradually unfolding it until my creative direction becomes clear.
Q: What part of creating gives you the greatest joy – and what part still challenges you every time?
The greatest joy is the moment the piece is finished – that instant when all the effort finally blossoms, which is incredibly rewarding. The most challenging part, however, is undoubtedly the initial conceptualization. It requires constant, deep excavation into my inner self to truly unearth what I am seeking.
Q: What keeps you making art when nobody is watching?
Pure passion.
Q: Is there a question you’re currently exploring through your work rather than trying to answer?
I am exploring the profound impact of artificial intelligence and technological evolution. I believe these are questions without a definitive answer, but I find myself compelled to keep exploring them through my work.
Q: What do you hope people feel after spending a few quiet minutes with your work?
I hope they can perceive that the figures in my work are imbued with both the longing for and the bewilderment toward the future.
Q: If your artwork had a soundtrack, what would we hear?
It would sound something like the score of Blade Runner. My more recent works might even carry a touch of “dreamcore” – an ethereal, nostalgic, yet slightly surreal atmosphere.
