An intriguing artist, Yao Zhi (姚治), also known under the pseudonym Huihuabiji, has captured my attention. It seems this alias is a sort of nickname. I had to do a bit of investigative work since the internet is full of misinformation. In Facebook groups, these works are often credited to Yao Yi Zhi, a partially Belgian artist, who is a real person but not the same individual, leading to confusion about their biography.
On the gallery website of this other Yao Yi Zhi, it’s clear that their style is entirely different—none of the charcoal sketches are present there. Additionally, Yao Zhi’s Instagram lacks the works shown on that gallery site, making it evident that this is a mix-up. Such things often happen with Chinese names.
Occasionally, the name Huihua Biji pops up, but that appears to be a creative misinterpretation by an audience unfamiliar with the nuances of Chinese naming conventions.
Yao Zhi primarily works with the dry charcoal technique (using charcoal pencils). On YouTube, searching for Huihuabiji or 姚治 reveals videos showing the creation process of some of these artworks. While they’re essentially sketches, they exude a unique atmosphere and are fascinating in their own right.
Thanks to Lana Denis for the lead.
Similar posts can be found under the hashtag #artrauflikes, and the Being in America website features all 140 works in the “Art Rauf Likes section—unlike Facebook, which tends to overlook nearly half of them.
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 