Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuqi Gong.
Yuqi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had a great passion for ACG culture since elementary school and enjoyed watching various animations and comics. Since that I hoped to become a manga artist when I was a teen. However, in the process of growing up, facing the expectations of my parents and various reasons, I did not become a cartoonist. Even then, I decided to devote myself to the CG industry, hoping to achieve my dreams and love in another way. In fact, there are many aspects in this field, and when I was a freshman, I was very confused about which area I should specialize in because whether it’s lighting, rigging, modeling, technical art, or other aspects, they are all very attractive to me. They all have their own unique charm. I have been exploring and struggling for a long time, and finally, I have made up my mind to walk on the path of technical art in the future. I often reflect on the relationship between art and technology. In my opinion, art and technology are not irrelevant as they seem to be; integrating the two will open up infinite possibilities to many sectors, such as virtual reality games, mixed reality products, and modern visual arts, thus significantly enriching people’s life. That is why I dream of being a technical artist and serving as a bridge linking art and technology to creatively make human life more colorful, convenient, and enjoyable by harnessing new media technologies.
When I started my graduate life, I found that Tech Art also had many aspects. In the process of creating my mini-thesis and thesis, I felt the charm of rigging and realized that it is also a discipline that combines art and technology. I have a clearer goal while rigging our thesis roles. I have decided to become a character tech artist as my main goal. Using detailed and precision coding to create rigs for character always attracted me a lot. I am always amazed by the results I produced. I can always make tremendous results for the characters with minor adjustments. Finding more efficient and technical ways to create a character is always my goal.
At the same time, I am also learning more new things, experiencing more about CG, and experiencing the charm of combining art and technology.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My mother has been very supportive of my pursuit of my dreams for the most part. However, since the field of computer graphics is still quite novel to her, she often expresses confusion about my desire to embark on such a path. Although she hasn’t explicitly stated it, I sense that she would prefer me to choose a more conventional career. Additionally, my undergraduate major isn’t directly related to gaming and animation, which means my professors can offer little guidance. As a result, I frequently find myself exploring and learning independently, leading to many moments of uncertainty. Questions about whether to persevere, how to continue learning, and how to navigate this uncharted path are challenging. Despite these obstacles, I have persisted and ultimately carved out my own path.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think I am a technical artist, also a 3D generalist. But I love rigging the most now. In recent months, I have mainly done the rigging job for my thesis and mini-thesis. I also took responsibility for hair simulation, cloth simulation, some sets shading, compositing, and modeling in my thesis and mini-thesis projects. But I would love to spend more time on exploring the tech art things and rigging things now, in my spare time.
A lot of things can make me proud of. For my undergraduate life, my thesis work made me most proud of. I think that was my first experience about CG production. I attempt of merging art and technology was made in my graduation design when I examined the modeling technology of natural scenes based on the Unreal Engine, a whole new software to me. Studying the software and related technologies from scratch, I gradually fostered proficiency and learnt to address problems along the way effectively. Complicated object modeling and digital carving were also daunting tasks in the project. I probed into them and operated bit by bit. My unremitting efforts finally paid me off with the award of excellent graduation design from our school, but many methods and procedures for game modeling that I grasped in the process are what I value even more.
And for now. I have to say that my mini-thesis project makes me proud the most. It called Puddy Muddy. In this short animation, for the first time, I fully applied the rigging knowledge I had learned and completed my first character rigging entirely on my own. Despite encountering many difficulties along the way, the outcome was positive, and many people expressed their love for the short film. This brought immense honor and satisfaction to both me and my team members. In fact, the process of making this short film rekindled my passion for rigging and tech art.
As for when I make up my mind to do something, no matter how much I may waver internally or how many difficulties I encounter along the way, I will definitely persevere and complete it. I believe my persistence is exceptional, as I’ve seen many peers who initially shared my dreams give up while I have been tirelessly persevering and steadfast in my pursuits and passions. Also, my innate curiosity drives me to constantly explore and learn, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
In collaborating with others, I always approach with an open and equal mindset. Effective communication is key to fully understanding each other’s needs and ensuring the smooth progression of a project. I strongly believe in equality among all members of a team; no one person should dominate the entire project. It’s only through open dialogue—sharing thoughts freely and offering reciprocal feedback—that we can achieve a flawless project outcome. My partners and I consistently complete our projects with joy, thanks to our commitment to continuous communication, which propels our work forward. Although we occasionally face disagreements and contrasting views, we make it a point to revisit our discussions with cool heads.
Furthermore, I consider myself to be quite easygoing and inclusive. I believe my ability to readily embrace others’ perspectives contributes significantly to the seamless advancement of our projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hazelgong-portfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hazel_yuq77/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazel-yuqigong-work/
