“Draw Your Life” Public Art Campaign

On March 30, 2025, VIVA and Qingwei Youth Space co-hosted the “Draw Your Life” public art campaign along Zhongshan Road in Qingdao. Aligned with Qingwei’s 10th anniversary, the event aimed to document urban narratives through community-driven art, foster cross-cultural resonance, and celebrate the city’s blend of maritime heritage and youthful vitality.

Event Highlights

The event featured a vibrant artistic procession, where passersby translated existential reflections into vivid artworks. Participants of diverse nationalities, ages, and professions collaborated, transforming individual stories into a collective ode to life. University students contributed innovative curation and execution, exemplifying local youth culture.

Interactive elements—improvised street art, story exchanges, and spontaneous collaborations—turned static displays into dynamic dialogues. Among the 53 collected artworks, themes ranged from exam pressures and life’s purpose to aspirations for peace.

A Swiss couple, cycling from Switzerland to Japan, paused to depict their journey’s starry skies and waves. A Danish student’s “Portrait of Human Colors” celebrated life’s vibrancy, reflecting his quest for personal meaning.

Art Empowers Life

VIVA’s philosophy of “everyone as a creator” resonated with Qingwei’s vision, merging maritime inclusivity with youthful innovation. The event concluded at twilight, leaving participants with artistic inspiration and deeper reflections on life’s meaning. VIVA and Qingwei pledged to continue fostering inclusive cultural exchanges, enhancing Qingdao’s role as a crossroads of heritage and creativity.

Qingwei Youth Space

Established in Qingdao on March 27, 2015, Qingwei Youth Space operates under the ethos “Embrace the Unknown, Live Out Ideals.” Over a decade, it has united creative youth through literary salons, film projects, music, and urban explorations, transforming ideals into tangible cultural initiatives.

Emotions and Life:

Spring Painting Therapy Event

As spring breathes new life into the campus, students at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) find themselves balancing the joys of the season with the pressures of academic deadlines.

On April 5, VIVA partnered with the Mood Psychology (WUSTL) student group to host a "Spring Painting Therapy Event" centered on the theme of "Emotions and Life." The event aimed to provide a platform for students to express their emotions and reconnect with their inner selves.

Event Purpose

Art, like a gentle breeze, has the power to heal. Every emotion carries its own color, and every experience holds a story worth telling. Through free-form painting, participants engaged in a deep dialogue with themselves, exploring emotions in a safe and accepting space. Whether joyful or somber, all feelings found expression on the canvas.

This event was not just an artistic activity but also a journey of relaxation and self-discovery. By embracing the colors of spring, participants reconnected with their emotions and explored the richness of life.

Event Recap

Despite the drizzle outside, the room was alive with vibrant colors as participants picked up brushes to trace the contours of their emotions, rediscovering lightness amidst laughter.

Part 1: Icebreaker Games – A Relay of Laughter and Teamwork

Groups of 5-7 played a timed drawing-and-guessing game, where each participant added to a evolving, often absurd, visual story. The playful challenge broke the rainy-day gloom and sparked excitement.

Part 2: "Draw Your Life" Creation – A Dialogue Through Colors

Participants freely created artworks themed around their life stories, using prompts like "unforgettable moments" or "special objects." Through self-portraits, abstract lines, or symbolic trees, they embarked on a journey of self-exploration.

Part 3: Emotion Card Painting – Visualizing Inner Feelings

Drawing random emotion cards, participants translated complex feelings into art without judgment or technical constraints, using painting as a window for honest self-reflection.

Participant Feedback

- "The drawing relay was so fun! The prompts were creative, and painting my life story helped me understand myself better."

- "This was a much-needed outlet for stress. The 'Draw Your Life' theme offered a fresh perspective—it felt like the brush could guide my thoughts."

Event Conclusion

Amidst the spring rain, this painting therapy event became a sanctuary for the soul. Participants slowed down, embraced their emotions, and left with brighter spirits. Every stroke told a story, and every contribution added hope and vitality to the day. This collaboration between VIVA and Mood Psychology (WUSTL) not only provided emotional release but also created resonance and healing through art.

Mood Psychology (WUSTL)

Founded in March 2021 by WUSTL psychology undergraduates, Mood Psychology (WUSTL) is an independent student group aligned with the mission of Mood Psychology. The group fosters an inclusive, confidential space for mental health support through workshops, expert lectures, and free counseling referrals. Activities like escape rooms and "tree hole" letter exchanges further build a supportive community.