Ani Syu / Tzu-En Hsu

Arts & Humanities (MFA)
Ani Syu sitting sideways on a red couch, smiling gently, with short dark hair and a cream knit cardigan.
A sculptural installation resembling a conveyor belt, displaying symbolic dish-like sculptures made of mixed materials, set on a white-covered table in a showroom-like space.
A sculptural installation resembling a conveyor belt, displaying symbolic dish-like sculptures made of mixed materials, set on a white-covered table in a showroom-like space.
The Limitless She Buffet — a conveyor-belt installation presenting sculptural dishes — fragments of personal stories, turned into quiet acts of resistance.
A collage of six photographs showing a hand placing personal items on a white shelf in a showroom-like setting.
A collage of six photographs showing a hand placing personal items on a white shelf in a showroom-like setting.
Feel Like Home: The Portable Casa Manual — a live engagement reimagining domestic intimacy within public display spaces. What happens when private objects enter a showroom designed for everyone?
Covers of tien faˊ magazine issues, including regular and special editions with diverse graphic styles and illustrations.
Covers of tien faˊ magazine issues, including regular and special editions with diverse graphic styles and illustrations.
tien faˊ — a newspaper project led by editor-in-chief Ani Syu (Tzu-En Hsu), bringing together 197 local reporters and over 40 professionals to reframe Hakka narratives through anthropological field research and contemporary design language.
A collection of spreads from tien faˊ magazine, featuring editorial layouts, typography, and images in various design styles and color palettes.
A collection of spreads from tien faˊ magazine, featuring editorial layouts, typography, and images in various design styles and color palettes.
tien faˊ, which means “indigo flower” in Hakka, is a print experiment that challenges stereotypes and reimagines the future of Taiwan’s Hakka communities.
A sculptural installation resembling a conveyor belt, displaying symbolic dish-like sculptures made of mixed materials, set on a white-covered table in a showroom-like space.
A collage of six photographs showing a hand placing personal items on a white shelf in a showroom-like setting.
Covers of tien faˊ magazine issues, including regular and special editions with diverse graphic styles and illustrations.
A collection of spreads from tien faˊ magazine, featuring editorial layouts, typography, and images in various design styles and color palettes.

About

Ani Syu (Tzu-En Hsu) is a Taiwanese artist, editor, creative director, and researcher with a background in philosophy and political science. Before joining the Royal College of Art, she led award-winning cultural publications and interdisciplinary projects, translating local complexities into shared cultural narratives. Her practice is grounded in anthropological field research—attuned to the textures of the everyday, emotional undercurrents, and unspoken rules.

Her practice begins with quiet questions—about how we play, how we long, and how we learn to follow paths we never chose. She uses symbolic objects, fictional menus, and interactive storytelling to explore subtle, hard-to-define states: in-betweenness, hesitation, quiet resistance, or the longing to be understood without having to explain.

Rather than impose fixed definitions, Ani’s work invites recognition without resolution. She believes that naming isn’t always necessary—sometimes, noticing is enough. These gestures of attention, however small, become quick-fixes: soft tools for survival, care, and shared resonance. Her work speaks not only to contemporary femininity, but to anyone shaped—and sometimes stifled—by invisible norms, still seeking lightness through the overlooked rituals of daily life.

Content Warning

The content on this website may contain themes and materials that some users find distressing or offensive. Further, the content on this website may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 18. User discretion is advised.

Any views and opinions expressed in this student profile represent the views and opinions of the student and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Royal College of Art or its employees or affiliates. The appearance of any views or opinions on this page do not constitute endorsement of those views by the Royal College of Art. This student profile has been made available for informational purposes only. The Royal College of Art does not make any representations or warranties with regard to the accuracy of any information provided in this student profile, nor does it warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of any listed or linked sites. The Royal College of Art is not responsible for the content submitted by any user, or for the defamatory, offensive or illegal conduct of any user. If you wish to report any errors or inappropriate material that may cause offence, please email feedback@rca.ac.uk 

To opt out >