Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Jin.
Joseph, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always influenced by western musical theater since I was little. When other kids skip school to play video games, I skip school to buy pirated DVDs of “Phantom of the Opera.” As a kid growing up in a normal family in a small town in northern China, you don’t have much access to art and theater. So I dropped out on my local high school when I was 16, and pursuit the art school in Beijing. I did my fine art training and worked in Beijing for five years. However, the urge of wanting to create more exciting performative art still bugs me. At that point, I need a new environment to stimulate myself, both in life and art. Then I decided to move to LA, come to California Institute of the Arts, spent my time there to study and collaborate with other young and passionate artist. I enjoyed the process that I get to work with lighting, graphic, technical, video and other designers together to make a vision come together. Now I work as a scenic designer, production designer in theater, film, entertainment, as well as writing and developing my piece, trying to find my own voice in the blooming art industry.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I believe an artist should always carry rich emotions to feel the world, and be honest to ourselves about the message we receive. However, you constantly have to battle with “do I hold on to my own principles” or “do whatever the client wants because I need the money.” After years of torturing myself with this question, I start to find my own approach to balance those two. There is one concept pitch project I did, that we have to design an all age friendly entertainment place in a foreign country(under NDA, can’t tell you what it is), me and my awesome team members connect the entertainment function to a specific local social issue, so we came up with a design that helps people to relax and exercise through the entertainment activities, using this landmark to suggest a way out.
I’m also a pretty instinct-driven artist when I have an idea or vision. I would follow my feelings, be in my room draw, write, talk to myself like a crazy person. If you ever see a murder TV show, the wall that has a bunch of pictures, torn papers connect with lines, that’s what my studio looks like. My friends always make fun of me that I’m an artist who doesn’t like to go to the art museum. For me, if I know what I want, then I have a pretty clear vision and instinct that I’m going to do. If I don’t, not to be paranoid, it doesn’t matter how much artwork I see, it just won’t feel right. However, seeing artwork is different from doing research. I always do my research and loved it. After all, the aesthetic and uniqueness of your art come from your craziness, your paranoid mind. And being true to yourself is the source of your artwork, I believe that’s what makes your art special and make people want to work with your creativity.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
I’m never a big believer in the art can change the world, realistic speaking the social and political power is essentially deciding what’s next. On a level, making art is just making art, like eating is just eating, a phenomenon based on human need, no need to make something out of it. However, what we eat and how we eat could significantly change our economy and environment over time. For example, the growing of film industry not going to stop global warming; in fact, a lot of movie set and advertising process produce a lot of waste that make the situation worse. But because of the fast industry growing, documentaries like “Before the Flood” could have the chance to be produced in front of the audience, and gets our attention. In a process like this, the entertainment market made many cinematic artists employed, and the product artist produces respond to the issue of today’s world, it made a suggestion of possible social changes.
My art form and the reason for making art always influenced by what’s happening in our community, our world. But just like the rest of us who make a living out of art, it’s hard to say that I can use art to make the world a better place, at least for myself. But I’m trying to be more aware of what’s happening, and make an honest response through my work, my behavior. I hope that will influence the people around me, even for a little bit. ( I did stop using straws because of a friend of mine.) Human beings are group animals that follow and respond to each other’s actions, and perhaps the art we make today would lead to a positive one.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work website is www.josephjin.com. I update my process on Instagram: josephjin_design. And mostly, your word of mouth is the best support, thank you. I’m currently working on a new project that can’t be told yet. Still, the show I worked as assisting set design just opened today. It’s called “UNTIL THE FLOOD” at Kirk Douglas Theater, written by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller, and set designed by Takeshi Kata. Runs till Feb 23, would love to see you there!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.josephjin.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: josephjin_design
- Other: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-jin-401700185/
Image Credit:
Richard Su-Head Shot
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