Meet our LOVers - Ziggy Tingjiang Zhu

Who are you?

I am Ziggy Tingjiang Zhu. I’m a Master’s student in Cultural Studies at KU Leuven.

I also co-organized the Sino Queer Short Film Festival - the first Chinese-language short film festival of its kind in Leuven. I interpreted and helped prepare some documents, and was also responsible for the marketing aspect. The film festival was held on May 22nd and it secured a full house at CinemaZed. This event is the first ever queer film festival about Asian people in Leuven. I was proud to be part of it, because it raised more awareness of queer Asian people living in Belgium and decreasing the stereotypes.

Outside of academia and organizing, I’m passionate about the gym and I love running.

Why did you become a LOVer?

I joined LOV 2030 through an internship offered via KU Leuven. I assisted the LOV-team in organizing and documenting workshops, seminars, and outreach activities. Furthermore, I researched and authored reports analyzing previous years of the European Capital of Culture competition and I maintained and updated a contact database.

I very much appreciated the warm, friendly, and open atmosphere connected to all things LOV. I am happy the trajectory of life guided me towards LOV 2030.

What does LOV mean to you?

To me, LOV feels like a warm family—a space where everyone can feel at ease, be happy, and express their creativity freely.

LOV is all about new encouters. Who did you meet during your stay in Leuven who gave you a LOVely feeling?

My internship supervisor Evi Gillard always supported me with kind encouragement and truly listened to my ideas. She valued my input and took my thoughts seriously. I also had the chance to collaborate with LOV program director Sevie Tsampalla once or twice, and those moments were filled with laughter and joy.

When was the last time you were astonished by nature?

When I visited Croatia—the ocean there was absolutely breathtaking!

Do you think art and culture can contribute to more connection?

Absolutely. Art and culture are among the most powerful tools to bring people together and build meaningful connections.

What is your favorite LOVely place in Leuven & beyond?

Heverlee. I love its forests, the abundance of nature, and the peaceful countryside atmosphere.

What do you hope for 2030?

I hope to see a world with less hate and more peace. I wish for significant progress in reducing poverty, inequality, racism, and prejudice. And I hope Leuven becomes even more diverse, with a vibrant calendar of international cultural events.