Timjune Tianjun Li
李天竣
Tianjun Li (b. 1999, CN/FI), also known as Timjune, is a Helsinki-based interdisciplinary artist working across photography, video, sound, voice, performance, and community-based practices. Drawing from their synesthesia and a four-octave vocal range, Li creates surreal sonic-visual landscapes where more-than-human beings emerge as metaphors for socio-ecological realities. Li holds a master’s degree in Visual Cultures, Curating, and Contemporary Art, with a minor in Sound in New Media, from Aalto University.
Their works have been exhibited and performed internationally, including at Northern Photography Centre (FI, solo), Contemporary Image Museum (CN), Skissernas Museum (SE), Copenhagen Photo Festival (DK), Der Greif (DE), Helsinki International Artist Programme (FI), Disseny Hub Barcelona (ES), Stockholm Fringe Festival (SE), Kulturhus Cyklopen (SE), Kotka Art Biennale (FI), Helsinki City Museum (FI), M. Žilinskas Art Museum (LT), Africa Foto Fair, MuCAT Museum (CI), Buffalo Arts Studio (US), and Paris Photo Day (FR).
Li has been awarded funded residencies including B28 Nordic Culture Point (FI), Saari Residence by Kone Foundation (FI), E75 Art Bus by MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Center (FI), Island Connect (Creative Europe), ESPRONCEDA Institute of Art and Culture (ES), SIM Residency (IS), and Kotka Art Biennale (FI). In 2025, they received an artist working grant from the City of Espoo.
Since 2023, Li’s "Singing Walk" project- shared through Chinese social media platforms has gained over 20 million views and 140,000+ followers, transforming the act of walking and singing into a meditative, collective practice.
In addition to their independent work, Li has collaborated with musicians and cultural organizations including Warner Music Group and Sigur Rós, contributing photography and visual storytelling for music releases.
Education
Visual Cultures, Curating, Contemporary Art, Master of Art, Aalto University, Finland
Sound in New Media (Minor), Aalto University, Finland
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Photo North - Northern Photographic Centre, Oulu
2026 Solo Exhibition (FI)
Dual Exhibition
2021 Rêverie: Christophe Tissot & Tianjun Li Dual Exhibition, Galerie Cipango, Paris
Group Exhibitions
2026
E75 Art Bus, MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Center, Helsinki
2025
DE-CONSTRUCTED, Photographic Exploration Project and B-Part Exhibition (Loopraum), Berlin
ONBOARDS Biennale, Antwerp
Copenhagen Photo Festival, Copenhagen
BOOKED MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Center, Helsinki and Oulu
Metamorphosis, Photographic Exploration Project, and La Nature Festival, Vielsalm
2024
Kapitel, Studio Tabac, Stockholm
Africa Foto Fair, MuCAT Museum
Aavistus Biennial of Audiovisual Art, Helsinki City Museum
International Photography and Media Art Festival, M. Žilinskas Art Museum, Kaunas
Art Lives Here (Final Winner), NYX Hotel by Leonardo Hotels, Warsaw
Urban Apa x Stoa, Stoa Cultural Centre, Helsinki
OPIA Festival Gallery Exhibition (Presented by Olafur Arnalds), Utrecht
Kotka Art Biennale, Kotka (FI)
Microtonal Music Studios Research and Study Programme Exhibition, Myymälä2 Gallery, Helsinki
Together: Poetic Asian Hands, Gaoshan Gallery, Helsinki
Directors Choice, photo: SCHWEIZ, Zürich
KREATIVITÄT DER LANGSAMKEIT, GISELA – Freier Kunstraum Lichtenberg, Berlin
2023
World Biennial of Student Photography, Novi Sad
1839 Photography Award, Contemporary Image Museum, Chengdu International Photography Festival, Chengdu
OPIA Launch Event Gallery (Presented by Ólafur Arnalds), Silent Green Kulturquartier, Berlin
Photometria International Photography Festival, Ioannina, Greece
Hamburg Portfolio Review Public Space Exhibition, Platz der Republik (Altonaer Museum), Hamburg
Single Shot Winner Exhibition, Festival di Fotografia a Capri, Certosa San Glacomo, Capri
Creativity in the Time of COVID-19: Art as a Tool for Combating Inequity and Injustice, Buffalo Arts Studio, New York
Past & Present: Der Greif 15 Anniversary, Pinakothek der Moderne and ZIRKA, Munich
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 2023 (1st Prize Winner), Belgrade Photo Month, 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 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 Art Book Exhibition, A4 International Art Residency Center, Chengdu
NABF Nanjing Art Book Fair, "Echo Project" Nanjing
Ningbo International Photography Week, Ningbo
Winter Exhibition, Echo Dark Gallery, Shenzhen
2019
The Shapes of Hibernation, Solo Exhibition, Smilology Gallery, Guangzhou
RETURN Cross-Media Art Group Exhibition, Arbre Art Centre, Shenzhen
Features and Presses
Almanac, Struer Tracks: Biennial for Sound and Listening, Sound Art Lab, 2025
Fotobus further, 2024
Der Grief (Issue 17, Launch during Paris Photo Fair), 2024
Dovetail Magazine, 2024
Visual Dialogue, seen-zeen Magazine, 2024
假杂志 JIAZAZHI Feature Article, 2024
Featured Interview, Modern Weekly 周末画报, Dec, 2023
Agenda 2024, ISSP (Platform for Contemporary Photography, Riga), 2023
2nd Chengdu International Photography Festival Collection Publication, 2023
Featured Artist Seen-zeen Magazine, 2023
Feature Article in Ruskeat Tytöt Media #1, 2023
Cover Artist and Interview, Modern Weekly 周末画报, Nov. 2023
Photographer. ru, 2023
Foto Noviny 63, 2023
Black Camera, 2023
Photographer in Focus, NOWNESS Asia, 2023
Spotlight Interview, 艺术品鉴 Appreciation Journal, 2023
Subjective Atlas of Finland, Subjective Editions, 2023
Feature Article, BROAD Magazine, 2023
TORSO Magazine, Finland 2023
Personal Interview, Bestudio, Helsinki, 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 (GZ Photo) 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 Program 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
Awarded Artist Residency
2026
B28 Residency Nordic Culture Point, FI
Saari Residence by KONE Foundation, FI
2025
Örö Art Residency, Summer Artist Program, FI
E75 Art Bus Programme and Artist Residency, MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, FI and GR
Island Connect, Creative Europe Residency for Performing Arts, FR and ES
ESPRONCEDA Center for Art and Culture, Barcelona, ES
2024
Art Lives Here - Photographic Artist Residency by Leonardo Hotels, PL
Nordiskt Ljus, SE
Camp Method Residency for Kotka Art Biennale, FI
Winter Campus Residency, Künstlerstadt Kalbe, DE
2023
SIM Artist Residency, Reykjavik, IS
Theatre in Palm Artist Residency, SE & FI
2021
Three Shadows Photography Art Center & Portman Hotel Residency, CN
Aranya Eastern Rising Tide Photography Artist Residency Program, CN
Photographic Artist Residency Program, Yan Art Gallery and A8 Design Center, CN
2020
Ripple: Artist-in-Residence Program, Spontaneous Art Village, Shanghai, CN
Performances & Concerts
2025
La Nature Festival, BE
El centre de creació C.IN.E, ES
Theatre Alibi, Corsica
Solo Concert at Aranya Hall, CN
Copenhagen Photo Festival, DK
MANIFEST: IO: Symposium for New Media and Electronic Art, Berlin
2024
Aalto Media Lab, Helsinki
Yö Galleria, Helsinki
Selected Sound Artist for ORGANISTRUM Program, KokoTheater, Helsinki
Nomads Festival: Helsinki Experimental Series, Performing with Helsinki Improvisers Orchestra, Forum Box Gallery, Helsinki
Rendered Voice, Skissernas Museum, Lund
Intent: Practice, Research and Togetherness, Helsinki International Artist Programme, Helsinki
Solo: Kulturhus Cyklopen, Stockholm Fringe Festival, Stockholm
Concert at Nordist Ljus, Kungälv
Solo: Outsider Art Festival, Mad House, Helsinki
SLURPS - New Stage of Contemporary Art, Pori
Kotka Art Biennale, Finland
Performance and Presentation, 30 Best Young European High Potentials Creative Talents by Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE), Design Museum of Barcelona
Concert, Microtonal Music Studios Research and Study Week, Myymälä2 Gallery, Helsinki
Solo Concert, Künstlerstadt Kalbe, Kalbe
Performance at SIM Residency, Reykjavik
2023
Vocalist in Helsinki Improvisation Orchestra, Helsinki
Performance at PENTHOUSE Gallery, Helsinki
Polyphonic, Crypt Gallery, London
Performance at Finnish Museum of Theatre, Helsinki
Photosynth Social Club: Summer Beat Camp & Sound Bathouse Performance, PIXELACHE Festival, Helsinki
Vocalist in Chicago Boys - While We Were Singing, They Were Dreaming, IHME Helsinki
Previous Grants
2026 B28 Residency Nordic Culture Point, FI
2026 Saari Residence by KONE Foundation, FI
2025 Artist Grant, Espoo City, Finland
2025 Örö Art Residency, Summer Artist Program, FI
2025 E75 Art Bus Programme and Artist Residency, MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Centre, FI and GR
2025 Island Connect, Creative Europe Residency for Performing Arts, FR and ES
2025 ESPRONCEDA Center for Art and Culture and PMP Project Residency Grant, ES
2024 Frame Contemporary Art Finland
2024 Northern Photographic Centre Exhibition Grant
2024 Leonardo Hotels, Winner of the Art Lives Here Programme
2024 Nordiskt Ljus Residency Grant
2024 Camp Method Residency Grant for Kokta Art Biennale
2024 Migration Institute of Finland Research Grant
2024 Finnfoto Grant for Exhibition Production
2024 Winter Campus Residency Grant, Künstlerstadt Kalbe
2023-2024 Aalto University, Art and Media Grant
2023 Ruskeat Tytöt Media
2023 Amatryx Lab & Studio and Michigan State University
2023 Theatre in Palm Residency Grant, Funded by Creative Europe
2023 Aalto University, Scholarship
Other Artistic Programmes
2024
Tutor for Visual Culture, Curating, and Contemporary Art, MA, Aalto University
Performance and Presentation, 30 Best Young European High Potentials Creative Talents by Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE), Design Museum of Barcelona
Vocalist in Helsinki Improvisation Orchestra, Helsinki
2023
Selected Artists of Hamburg Portfolio Review, Hamburg
Vocalist in Chicago Boys - While We Were Singing, They Were Dreaming, IHME Helsinki
Subjective Atlas of Finland, Subjective Editions, Curated by Annelys Devet
2021
Selected artist for 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 Magazine
2019
First Prize at Photography Competition, Art23 Contemporary Art Gallery, Guangzhou