Stories
Artist interviews, independent practitioner conversations, and project case studies from the field. The lives behind the work.
For nearly 20 years, Tan Xiaozheng has been documenting the lives and practices of independent artists and creators — not through structured Q&A, but through long-form conversations that trace the contours of a person’s creative journey.
This collection brings together interviews from Backwall Studio’s archive, translated and re-expressed for an English audience. Each story is a case study in how independent practitioners think, work, and grow.
Interviews
Tan Xiaozheng: 22 Years of Independent Practice
A self-interview by the founder of TANXORA. Born in Chengdu, class of 2004 from the Central Academy of Fine Arts animation program. Started DONGKOH as a student publication — it became one of China’s most influential independent animation media. After serving 400+ brands across two decades, the question that remained was: what does it mean to build independently, on your own terms?
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The Backwall Revival: Why a 2005 Project Came Back
Backwall started in 2005 as a student forum community at the Central Academy of Fine Arts. It ran for two years, then closed. In 2023, it came back — as an art interview studio, a video podcast, and a research practice. This is the story of why some projects need 18 years to find their form.
Coming soon
Case Study
400 Brands, 22 Years, One Person
How a solo practitioner served hundreds of clients across animation, media, art, and cultural production without ever building a team.
Coming soon
TANXORA · Built independently. Grown together.