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Biography – Ziqian Liu (he/him) – Arcticloudz

Ziqian Liu (he/him) is an artist-researcher based in Montréal, dedicated to creating memorable musical soundscapes and filmic materials, interweaving these elements to construct a rich tapestry of artistic possibilities. A multi-instrumentalist on piano, French horn, voice, flute, djembe, and mellophone, Liu works in the film and television industry, specializing in sound design, music composition, visual design, and 2D animation. He is also very passionate about motion design, and his practice bridges theory and creation, integrating immersive soundscapes, motion graphics, and visual storytelling.

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Liu holds a BS in Film and Television from Boston University (2015-2019), with minors in Music and Visual Arts, and an MA in Film and Moving Image Studies from Concordia University (2020-2023). Graduated in film theory and production, he combines academic expertise with practical experience in editing, music, media creation, animation installations, visual art practices, improvisation, and ciné-concert performances. His projects range from experimental short films to research on film sound, film music, global cinemas, and contemporary animation, with particular emphasis on sensory and emotional narratives in which sound drives storytelling.

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Research interests: Liu’s work focuses on Impressionism in film and music, particularly the influence of early 20th-century French composers such as Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Lili Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre, and Louis Aubert on Impressionist filmmakers including Jean Epstein, Abel Gance, Germaine Dulac, and Louis Delluc, and their innovative use of cinematic techniques. His research also explores the historical and aesthetic intersections of sound design and music during the silent film era, as well as the evolving role of sound design in contemporary filmmaking. Liu further examines the work of directors such as Vincente Minnelli, Jacques Tati, Wes Anderson, and Denis Villeneuve.

CURRICULUM VITAE (SEP. 2025)

ZIQIAN LIU | he/him | Montréal, Canada | ziqianliu@arcticloudz.com

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PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Multidisciplinary artist and researcher based in Montréal, working at the intersection of music technology, orchestral traditions, and visual arts. My practice integrates music composition, sound design, editing, and visual experimentation to create immersive experiences. I am particularly drawn to silent cinema, its contemporary adaptations, and cine-concerts, exploring live sound integration and experimental narrative approaches. I seek interdisciplinary collaborations in music, film, sound/visual arts, motion design, and cultural studies.

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EDUCATION

  • M.A. in Film and Moving Image Studies — Concordia University, Montréal, QC (Sep 2020 – May 2023)

  • B.S. in Film and Television (Minors: Music, Visual Arts) — Boston University, Boston, MA (Sep 2015 – May 2019)

 

AWARDS & HONOURS

  • Graduate Award in Film Studies — Concordia University, 2021

  • Magna Cum Laude — Boston University, 2019

  • Dean’s List — Boston University, 2018, 2019

 

SELECTED COURSEWORK

Practice / Production: Advanced Seminars in Electronic Music (digital sound processing, surround 7.1, Max/MSP, Ableton Push), Sound Design for Film (foley & immersive sound in Arrival), Music Theory & Composition (Minuet and Trio), Film Production, Visual Arts, Site-Specific Art, 2D Animation

Theoretical / Analytical: Emerging Media & Smart Cinema, Expanded Cinema, Structuralist & Classical Film Theory, French Music & Cinema, Scandinavian Cinema, Jazz History, Canadian Cinema, LGBTQ Film Studies, Feminist Archives, 1950s Hollywood

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TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • Teaching Assistant — Digital Cinema, Concordia University (Fall 2022)

  • Teaching Assistant — Indigenous Cinema, Concordia University (Winter 2021)

 

CREATIVE & RESEARCH PROJECTS

Film:

  • Synaesthetic Cosmos (2021, short experimental)

  • Tianjin-Beijing, Interlinked (2021, short documentary)

  • Today is Not the Day (2019–2020, composer & sound engineer)

  • Just Friends (2019, sound designer)

  • Her Garden (2018, composer & sound designer)

  • Tuck (2017, art direction researcher)

  • Escapism (2017, short film)

  • Revere Beach (2016, short documentary)

Music:

  • Pluie douce sur Daphnis (2025, improvised sketch)

  • Danse pastorale (2025)

  • Jardin d’Éden (2025, work in progress)

  • Improvising in the Spirit of Ravel (2024)

  • Golden Hour – Orchestral Remix (2023)

  • Distance – EP (2020)

  • ​Minuet & Trio (2018) – Bridges classical tradition and modern harmonic innovation; explores the formal minuet and trio structure while incorporating contemporary harmonic techniques

  • Earlier works: Formation – EP (2017), Dark Theme – EP (2016)

Sound Design: Diplo – Set Me Free, Inside (2017), Infinity: A Sound Response (2017)

Visual Arts & Design: Contact (2017 animation), Fruition installation, SketchUp project for Pablo Picasso, charcoal drawings and paintings in the style of Edward Hopper

Video Essays: Beyond Desktop Audiovisuality (2021), Tactics to Redress Algorithmic Bias (2021)

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Music Composer & Visual Artist — Arcticloudz Studio, International (Apr. 2014 – Present)
Compose across electronic and classical traditions using Logic Pro, Ableton, FL Studio, and Max/MSP. Current projects include electronic reinterpretations of Ravel and early 19th-century French composers, as well as a cine-concert composition project on Jean Epstein’s Finis Terrae.

Event Coordinator — Canada China International Film Festival, Montréal (Feb. 2023 – Jul. 2023)

  • Managed programming, logistics, and cultural partnerships

  • Drafted sponsorship proposals and supported grant applications

  • Oversaw ticketing, YouTube channel, and promotional materials

  • Provided Chinese–English translation and represented the festival at events

Video Editor & Graphic Designer (Intern) — Canada China International Film Festival, Montréal (May 2022 – Aug. 2022)

  • Produced trailers, highlights, and promotional visuals

  • Converted films to DCP and operated AV equipment during screenings

  • Coordinated social media campaigns and team workflows

Content Researcher & Video Editor — XFun Culture & Media, Beijing (Dec. 2019 – May 2020)

  • Researched international gastronomy trends

  • Produced short-form content for social media

  • Designed presentations and translated Chinese–English communication

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VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

  • Beijing International Film Festival (2021)

  • Hainan Island International Film Festival (2020)

  • Boston Marathon (2018, 2019)

  • Humanitarian Missions — Florida (2019), Texas (2018), Maine (2017)

 

SKILLS

Music & Sound: Composition, improvisation, sound design, foley (Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Max/MSP, Pro Tools, FL Studio)
Instruments: Horn, piano, keyboards, voice, guitar, flute, djembe, Ableton Push
Visual Arts: 2D animation, storyboard, graphic design (Adobe Animate, Blender, SketchUp)
Video Editing: Adobe CC, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve
Immersive Technology: Interactive sound and installation design
Research & Writing: Interdisciplinary focus on music, cinema, and visual arts in Belle Époque France/Russia
Languages: Mandarin (native), English (academic proficiency), French (intermediate)

 

PRESENTATIONS

  • “Indigenous Film Festivals” — Concordia University, 2021

  • “Unsettling Nation” — Concordia University, 2021

  • “Synesthetic Cosmos” — Concordia University, 2021

  • “Cinema of Exploration” — Concordia University, 2020

  • “Proposal for a Site-Specific Installation” — Boston University, 2019

  • “Thomas Eakins: Anatomy & Photography” — Boston University, 2019

  • “Understanding Futurism” — Boston University, 2017

  • “History of Old South Church” — Boston University, 2016

 

PUBLICATIONS & RESEARCH PAPERS

  • Beyond Desktop Audiovisuality – Final Project (Video Essay), Expanded Cinema, May 2021

  • John Akomfrah: Purple – Screening Report, Expanded Cinema, March 2021

  • Structuralist Approach to Film Sound – Final Paper, Structuralist Film Theory, Dec. 2020

  • Tactics to Redress Algorithmic Bias – Video Essay, Video/Internet Research, Nov. 2020 (published on GEM Lab website)

  • Structuralist Analysis of the Office Building Scene in Playtime – Midterm Assignment, Nov. 2020

  • Babette’s Feast: Spiritual Reconciliation through Sacrifice and Culinary Art – Final Paper, Film Studies, May 2019

  • Art Deco in Graphic Design – Final Paper, History of Graphic Design, May 2018

 

ASSOCIATIONS & SOCIETIES

  • Concordia University — M.A., Film and Moving Image Studies (Sep 2020 – May 2023)

    • Concordia Graduate Film Studies Student Association

    • Global Emergent Media Lab

    • SpokenWeb

    • Synoptique

  • Boston University — B.S., Film and Television (Minors: Music, Visual Arts) (Sep 2015 – May 2019)

    • BU Pep Band — Mellophonist

    • Boston University Cinémathèque

    • Globally Speaking (French, German, Italian, Japanese)

 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Extensive personal and professional travel across Europe, Asia, Oceania, and North America, including Svalbard, Norway; UK; Japan; South Korea; New Zealand; Turkey; Canada; USA

© 2019–2025 Arcticloudz

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