Ash Xu is a London-based interactive artist whose practice operates at the intersection of neuroscience, generative art, and posthumanism. A graduate of the Royal College of Art and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), Xu utilizes technology as a mirror to reflect on technology itself, creating immersive environments that explore the "connectivity dilemma" of the post-digital era. His work aims to reconstruct human connections—between people, machines, and the environment—through intuitive, speculative narratives.

His latest practice, the series ‘Cosmic in the Brain’, utilizes Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology to translate the abstract processes of human thought into a virtual cosmos. By wearing EEG-based neural sensors, participants’ real-time brain activity drives a digital simulation engine, where cognitive rhythms and emotional states dictate the morphology and decay of celestial bodies. This neurofeedback loop poses a profound philosophical question: is the universe we observe merely an elaborate projection of our own consciousness? Through this "slow-tech" engagement, Xu encourages participants to move beyond passive observation into a state of deep reflection and active connection.

Xu’s innovative approach has gained international recognition, with works exhibited at Milan Design Week, the London Design Festival, and the National Galleries of Scotland. His extensive exhibition history includes solo and group shows in major global hubs such as Paris, Berlin, Moscow, and Shenzhen. As the co-founder of Flotage.Co, Xu continues to be at the forefront of contemporary interactive art, transforming complex speculative critique into tangible, profound experiences that challenge our perception of reality.

Education & Training

2023–2024

MA Design Products, Royal College of Art

London, UK

2022

Professional Certificate, Peking University

Peking, China

2019–2023

BA Technology and Applied Design, Macao Polytechnic University

Macao, SAR

Exhibition & Projects (Selection)

2025

The Thread That Pulls, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

Wandering Waves, Solo Exhibition, Tinglan Art Gallery, Shenyang, China

SEED_2065, Handbag Factory Gallery, London, UK

North Wales Open, Theatr Clwyd, Mold, UK

Cosmic in the Brain, Atom Space, Shenzhen, China

Hybrid Chronicles, Vnutri Center, Moskau, Russia

Spanning Delta II, PAKD Gallery, Berlin, Germany

Voyage dans l’Inconscient, Galerie M, Paris, France

2024

Disruptia, One Friendly Place, London, UK

London Design Festival, Brompton Design District, London, UK

Gardening, Andrea Ingenito Gallery, Mailand, Italien

New York Design Week (NYDW), Online

2023

Chinese Contemporary Uni Student’s Art Work, Design Metro Building, Peking, China

2022

The Journey of Experimenter, MPU Gallery, Macao, SAR

2021

The 23rd West Lake International Expo, Hangzhou, China