As a world-renowned art director for stage and film, costume designer and visual artist Tim Yip continues to explore and communicate his aesthetic concept "New Orientalism", which is his interpretation of ancient culture to inspire the future. He works widely in contemporary film, theatre, art, literature, and other creative fields. For “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, Yip won the Oscar for "Best Art Direction", becoming the first Chinese to be awarded by the Academy, and the British Film and Television Academy award for "Best Costume Design", in 2001.

Since joining his first movie "A Better Tomorrow" in 1986, Tim Yip has created sets and costumes for many films, cooperating with world famous directors such as John Woo, Ang Lee, Feng Xiaogang, Cai Mingliang, Chen Guofu, Guan Jinpeng, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Li Shaohong and more. His films include "Red Cliff", "The Banquet", "Back to 1942", "The Message", "The Promise", "Springtime in Small Town", "Ming Ghost", "Rouge", "Temptation of a Monk", “The Palace of Desire”, "Ripening Orange", "Dream of Red Mansions”, the NETFLIX television series "Marco Polo" and many other works, which embody a spirit of creativity and an atmosphere of the culture from which they have sprung, garnering much international attention and acclaim. His coming work the film series Fengshen Trilogy, the first film of which is expected to be released in 2023.

In the field of theatre, Tim Yip has collaborated with many world-renowned practitioners and groups, including Robert Wilson, Franco Dragone, Akram Khan, Zhang Yimou, Stan Lai, Yang Liping, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, Contemporary Legend Theater, Legend Lin Dance Theater, Han Tang Yue Fu, Tai-Gu Tales Dance Theatre, U Theatre and more. His theatre productions include "Medea", "The Feast of Han Xizai", "The Palace of Eternal Youth", "A Dream of a Dream", "The Peacock", and "Under Siege", working with San Fransisco Opera House, Sadler's Wells Theater London, the Joyce Theater, Palais de Chaillot, Opera-Comique Paris, Opernhaus Graz Austria, Beijing National Center of Performing Arts, and Taipei National Palace Museum among many others, and participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Avignon Dramatic Art Festival, Le Biennale de Lyon and a number of other international arts festivals. In 2004, Tim Yip was the visual designer for the Athens Olympic Games handover ceremony to China. In 2010, he collaborated with world renowned choreographer and dancer Akram Khan as visual artist (set and costume design) for “Desh”, which won the American Bessie Award and the British Olivier Award. Yip and Khan have since collaborated on “Until the Lions”, and in 2016 with the English National Ballet on its new production of "Giselle". In September 2016, Yip designed costumes and sets for Bright Sheng’s new opera “Dream of the Red Chamber”, directed by Stan Lai, which premiered at the San Francisco Opera House and had its Asian premiere at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in March 2017 and toured in mainland China in September 2017. In 2018, Tim was visual artist (sets and costumes) for “Rite of Spring” choreographed by Yang LiPing, which had its premiere in Shanghai in 2018 and toured in the UK in 2019. Yip also worked as production & costume designer in Hong Kong Ballet’s new production “The Great Gatsby”, the opera “Beauty and Sadness” directed by Carolyn Choa & “Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise” at The Shed in New York, directed by Chen Shi-Zhen, which premiered in 2019. In 2021, he participated in the production “Creature” choreographed by Akram Khan and performed by English National Ballet as the visual artist (set and costume design). In the same year, Yip as the chief director, has his first directed stage play "Love In A Fallen City" premiered at the Shanghai Grand Theatre and toured in China. Yip was also the set and costume designer of Opera “Lohengrin” directed by François Girard. The opera had its premiere at the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia in 2022 and was staged at the Metropolitan Opera House in USA in 2023.

Since 2002, Tim Yip has held special exhibitions at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan, Maison de la Culture de Bourges in France, the Royal Dutch Theater in Amsterdam, the Madrid Cultural Center in Spain, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the United States. His artistic works have also participated in the New York International Asian Art Fair and other major art events worldwide. Yip has held solo exhibitions at Beijing Today Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, Beijing Three Shadows Arts Center, and Singapore Esplanade. In 2015, Yip’s short film “Kitchen” won "Best Art Direction" at the 8th ASVOFF Festival at the Pompidou Center in Paris, France. In 2016, Yip had the solo exhibition “In Parallel” at the Maison de la Culture D’Amiens in France and “Tim Yip: Reformation” at the Shanghai Power Station of Art in China. In 2017, Tim’s solo exhibition “Tim Yip: Migong” was held in Yuan Museum in Chongqing, China. In 2018 Yip created the ‘Cloud’ project which explores themes of youth, identity and environment through costume and art installation, in partnership with Southbank Centre London. This also led to his “primitive film” journey into the East London artists world. Since 2018, he has interviewed a great deal of influential artists in London include Vivienne Westwood, Gilbert & George, Stephen Jones, Andrew Logan, Daniel Lismore, Jonny Woo, Charles Saumarez Smith (former Chairman & CEO of Royal Academy of Art), Iwona Blazwick (Director of White Chapel Gallery), Diane Pernet (founder of ASVOFF), Pandemonia and many more, which ultimately become his art film “Love Infinity” - a half fiction, half documentary experience which look into human spirituality and inner freedom, leading to connecting and love. His solo exhibition “Tim Yip: Blue” at the Hong Kong Design Institute Gallery opened in November 2018. In April 2019, “Tim Yip: Mirror” was held in Beijing Today Art Museum, when Yip explored the relationships between art and science in his solo exhibition, as well as introducing his brand new concept of “Spiritual DNA” to the public. And in November the same year, Yip had his film art recollection exhibition in Art Amoy Museum, Xiamen, showcasing his most infamous creations of film, tv and theatre art pieces. In 2023, Tim Yip has participated in the Minneapolis Museum of Art exhibition "Eternal Sacrifice: Ancient Chinese Bronze Rites" as visual director.

Tim Yip has worked with M.A.C, Chow Tai Fook and other well-known commercial brands in cross-border artistic collaborations. In 2010, Yip participated in Dior’s 60th Anniversary Exhibition "Christian Dior and Chinese Artists", at the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art (UCCA) in Beijing. That same year, he was invited by Federlingo Arredo – the Italian Wood and Furniture Association – to create an art installation of Italian furniture at the Shanghai Expo. In 2016, Yip was invited by Taiwan VOGUE to collaborate with CHANEL, directing star Gwei Lun Mei in the film “Looking for Coco Chanel”. In Sept 2016, as part of his solo exhibition "Tim Yip: Reformation", Yip was commissioned by SWAROVSKI to create the dress “Shaping”, with more than 100,000 Swarovski crystals. In June 2017, FENDI invited Yip to specially design a Peekaboo handbag for the Fendi China Peekaboo Project. In 2017, Yip was invited by VOGUE Film to create the film “L’inoubliable” starring Zhou Xun and Hu Ge. In 2018 Yip was commissioned to design the fan for Mandarin Oriental’s new hotel in Wangfujing, Beijing. Yip was invited to be the designer of Team China’s Olympic Podium Uniform in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

In addition to visual art creations, Tim Yip has been devoted to writing for many years, with publications including “Lost in Time”, “Flower of the Wind”, “Floating”, “Connections”, “Rouge: L'Art de Tim Yip”, “GIJ ON”, “Illusions of Silence”, “Passage”, "Reformation: The Aesthetics of Tim Yip” , “Mirror” and others. His books have been translated into English, French and other languages, and were published worldwide. Yip’s latest publication is "Mirror” (simplified Chinese version).

For more information, please go to Tim Yip Studio’s official website (www.timyipstudio.com) or follow Tim Yip on Weibo, WeChat, Facebook and Instagram (timyipstime & lilili_untitled & timyip_loveinfinity)

2023

Set and costume designer for Lohengrin, The Metropolitan Opera House, directed by Francois Girard

2022

HONOR 80 Series Aesthetic Ambassador and Digital Art Installation for Product Launch

2022

Designer of Team China’s Olympic Podium Uniform in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics

2022

Set and Costume Designer for Lohengrin, The Historic Stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, directed by François Girard

2021

Set and Costume Designer for Nine Songs, City Contemporary Dance Company, choreographed by Helen Lai

2021

Mercedes-Benz “Comfort Zone” Art Installation, WF Central Beijing

2021

Chief Director and Visual Designer for Love in a Fallen City

2020

Designer of Team China’s Olympic Podium Uniform in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

2020

Visual Artist (Set and Costume Designer) for Creature, English National Ballet, choreographed by Akram Khan

2019

Original Production Concept Designer for Dragon Spring Phoenix Rise, The Shed in New York, directed by Chen Shi-Zheng

2019

Set and Costume Designer for Beauty and Sadness, Directed by Carolyn Choa, Original novel by Kawabata Yasunari

2019

Costume Designer for Farewell My Concubine，National Theatre of Korea, directed by Wu Hsing-kuo

2019

Set and Costume Designer for The Great Gatsby, Choreography by Septime Webre, Performed by Hong Kong Ballet

The Hong Kong Dance Award for Outstanding Costume

2018

Concept, Director and Visual Designer for Multimedia Theatre The Garden, Beijing Modern Dance Company

2018

Visual Designer (Sets and Costumes) for Rite of Spring, Directed by Yang Liping, Composer Igor Stravinsky, He Xuntian.

2017

Concept, Director and Visual Designer for Multimedia Theatre Translucent City, Asia Society Hong Kong

2017

Costume Designer for Extra Dream of The Red Chamber, script by Luo Qian, directed by Xu Chunlan, starring Shen Yili

2017

Director and Cinematographer for L’Inoubliable, produced by VOGUE Film, starring Zhou Xun and Hu Ge

2017

Design / Story / Director for Storm in Emptiness, the opening show of the Tenth "National Spirit Achievers" Awards ceremony and Modern Media Group 25th anniversary celebration, Produced by Modern Media Group, Video Design by Tobias Gremmler.

2016

Set and Costume Designer for Dream of the Red Chamber, San Francisco Opera, composed by Bright Sheng, directed by Stan Lai (US)

2016

Visual Artist (Set and Costume Design) for Giselle, English National Ballet, choreographed by Akram Khan, original composition Adolphe Adam, with new composition by Vincenzo Lamagna

2015

Visual Artist (Set & Costume Design) for Under Siege, Yang Liping Company, direction and choreography by Yang Liping

The Bessie Awards for Outstanding Visual Design

2015

Visual Artist (Set and Costume Design) for Until the Lions, Akram Khan Company, direction, choreography and performance by Akram Khan (UK)

2015

Set and Costume Designer for Lady Zhaojun, Li Yu Gang (China)

2014

Costume Designer for The Han Show, direction by Franco Dragone

2013

Costume and Image Designer for A Dream Like A Dream, Performance Workshop, directed by Stan Lai

2012

Costume and Set Designer for The Peacock, directed, choreographed by Yang Liping

2011

Costume and Set Designer for Jiaofang Ji by Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble

2011

Costume and Set Designer for Panzhigu by Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble

2011

Costume Designer for Emperor Kangxi and the Sun King Louis XIV, Taiwan Palace Museum, directed by Wu Hsing-kuo

2011

Visual Artist (Set & Costume Design) for DESH, Akram Khan Company, Direction, choreography and performance by Akram Khan (UK)

2010

Costume Designer for 1433 - The Grand Voyage, directed by Robert Wilson with U Theatre

2010

Costume and Image Designer for Taoist Charm from Qingcheng, choreographed by Jin Xin (China)

2010

Costume designer and styling direction for The Liaisons, directed by Fredric Mao (Hong Kong)

2010

Set, Costume and Image Designer for Empress Fuhao, The Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble, directed by Chen Mei O (China)

2009

Costume designer for Song of Pensive Beholding (Guan), Legend Lin Dance Theater (Taiwan)

2007

Costume Designer for Into the Night Mountain, U Theatre

2006

Costume and Stage Designer for Movie Songs, Television Program

2006

Costume designer for The King & I, Broadway Asia Entertainment (China, USA)

2005

Costume Designer for Genesis, City Contemporary Dance Company, choreographed by Helen Lai

2004

Set and costume designer for The Tempest by Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan)

2004

Costume Designer for the Athens Olympics Beijing Handover Performance, directed by Zhang Yimou

2004

Costume and Set Designer for Palace of Eternal Youth, Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Province

2003

Costume designer for The Dandelion Sword by U Theatre (Taiwan)

2002

Costume designer for August Snow by National Council for Cultural Affairs, directed by Gao Xing Jian (Taiwan)

Appointed program for the Year of Gao Xing Jian in Marseille, France in 2003

2002

Set and costume designer for Nine Songs, City Contemporary Dance Company and choreographed by Helen Lai with the Academy award winner composer Tun Dun (Hong Kong)

2001

Costume and set designer for The Feast of Han Xizai by Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble (Taiwan)

Also Performed at Het Muziektheater Amsterdam in 2002 and the Carnegie Hall Ancient Paths and Modern Voices Festival in 2009

2001

Costume designer for King Lear, Contemporary Legend theatre (Taiwan)

2001

Costume designer for Meeting with Manjusri Bodhisattva, U Theatre (Taiwan)

2001

Set and costume designer for Of Heaven and Earth, Law Brothers Chinese Performing Arts

Premiered at The Centre in Vancouver For Performing Arts in 2002

2000

Costume and set designer for Voices, Taipei Crossover Dance Company (Taiwan)

2000

Costume Designer for Beauties at Stroll, Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble

2000

Costume and props designer for Anthem for the Fading Flowers by Legend Lin Dance Theater (Taiwan)

Invited to the 2000 Lyon Biennial Dance Festival

1999

Costume Design for Sun Suspended, Cloud Gate Dance Theater, choreographed by Helen Lai

1999

Costume designer Le Jardin des Délices, La Péniche Opéra with Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble (Taiwan, France)

Premiered at Utrecht, Holland and performed at the Opera Comique, Luxemburg Theatre in Paris, the Hexagone Theater, Opera Messy Theater, Theatre de Neuilly in France

1999

Costume designer for Burning the Juniper Branches by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre (Taiwan)

Invited to the 2000 Hong Kong Art Festival

1999

Costume Designer for Bird of Paradise, Taipei Crossover Dance Company

1998

Costume and Set Designer for The Mirror of Love by Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble

1998

Costume designer & artistic consultant for The Sound of Ocean, U Theatre (Taiwan)

1998

Costume designer for Not Until Hell is Empty, Will I Become a Buddha, Neo-Classic Dance Company (Taiwan)

1998

Costume Designer for A Paper Acacia, Jiang Tsui Nanguan Experimental Troupe

1998

Costume designer & Concept Development for In The Beginning, City Contemporary Dance Company and choreographed by Helen Lai

1998

Costume designer for Who is Lying by National Fu Hsing Chinese Opera Theatre (Taiwan)

1998

Costume designer for The Dark side of the Moon, Taipei Crossover Dance Company (Taiwan)

Invited to the Festival of Asian Art in Hong Kong and performed at The Place Theatre in London

1997

Costume designer for Tristan and Isolde, Buhnen Graz Opera House, directed by Lutz Graf (Austria)

1997

Set and costume Designer for Beauties at Stroll (Lirenxing) by Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble (Taiwan)

Performed at the 42nd Asia-Pacific Film Festival

1997

Costume designer for Chronicle of A Floating City, Taipei Crossover Dance Company (Taiwan)

1996

Costume designer for Black Hole, Neo-Classic Dance Company (Taiwan)

1996

Costume designer for Rashomon by the Buhnen Graz Opera House, directed by Lin Hwai-Min (Austria)

1996

Costume designer for Tsao-Pi & Chen-Mi by Neo-Classic Dance Company (Taiwan)

1995

Costume designer for Sumptuous Feasting Song by the Han Tang Yue Fu Music and Dance Ensemble

Invited to the 1998 Avignon Festival in 1998, 2000 Adelaide Festival 2000, 2000 Biennale de la Danse de Lyon 2000, 2002 Theatre Nationale de Chaillot in Paris 2002, Circulo des Bellas Artes in Madrid and Theater Javellanos in Gijon, Spain in 2002.

1995

Costume designer for Oresteia, Contemporary Legend theatre and directed by Richard Schechner (Taiwan)

1995

Costume designer for Variegate, Taipei Dance Circle (Taiwan)

1995

Costume designer for Moon Shadow Terrace, choreographed by Susan Buirge (France)

Commissioned by the Festival de Saint-Florent-le Vieil, France

1995

Costume designer for Rendez-Vous Avec Les Fleurs et La Lune, Tai-Gu Tales Dance Theatre (Taiwan)

1995

Costume Designer for Miroirs de Vie (Jiao), Legend Lin Dance Theater (Taiwan)

Invited to the 1998 Avignon Festival

1995

Costume designer for Nan Quan Promenade, Ganga Tsui Theater (Taiwan)

1994

Costume designer for The Life of Mandala, Tai-Gu Tales Dance Theatre (Taiwan)

Invited to 1996 Taiwan Arts Festival-Aachen in Germany, Holland and the 1997 Spoleto Festival in South Carolina

1993

Costume and set designer for Medea, Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan)