Conversations with Lingyi Wang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lingyi Wang

Hi Lingyi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Dream Concerts originated as my capstone project for a post-graduate course I took last year at Sheridan College in Toronto. I already had earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Nanjing University in China and a Masters in Veterinary Science from the University of Edinburgh, but I woke up one morning after so many tears of formal science education with the realization that my passion was for the arts. Canada has great support for art and artists, so I packed up my apartment in Shanghai and moved to Toronto and enrolled in a program called Creative Industry Management.

The inspiration for this project stemmed from my own struggles with sleep. For several months I played a Chinese ambient music album called “Green Soul” by Sound Blanc over and over on loop every night to help me sleep. It worked better than any medication! Through my research I discovered that sleep issues are actually extremely prevalent but that music has shown scientifically proven therapeutic effects. This led me to the idea of organizing a “sleep concert”.

While volunteering at a downtown art gallery I go to know its founder Ian Kelso. Ian was immediately fascinated by the idea of sleep concerts and offered to help produce on using his gallery space. We studied similar projects from around the world and incorporated new elements — visual arts and video projection technology — to create a dreamy immersive experience. Ultimately my goal for this first attempt was to showcase the unique charm of ambient music and raise awareness about sleep and mental health.

The first concert series which took place February 9th and 10th highlighted this vision offering attendees a really unique experience. And instead of sitting down through the concert we offered guests a choice of mattresses or cushions to relax on where they were able to fully immerse themselves in the visual art and live music experience. Some were so comfortable they even fell asleep for periods, and that was one of the results we really hoped for!

The visuals were directed by Tom Kuo and the immersive experience designed by Brian T. Moore, both Toronto veterans of projection mapping and live visual effects. The musical line up for each show was curated by Daniel Field who runs an ambient music label called Imaginary North and performs under the name Kilometre Club. Over the course of four concerts in two evenings, we featured eight performers. We even had a mattress sponsor who loaned us all the twin and double beds!

Even though we ended up with only ten days of marketing lead time, three of the four shows actually sold out! And feedback afterwards was overwhelmingly positive underscoring a growing demand for experiences like this where you can go out and chill in a social environment. This has motivated us to seek out larger venues that align with our aspirations for future Dream Concerts.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha ha, this was my first experience as a producer of an indie event and so I often felt quite stressed and anxious. Reaching agreement with Ian — who had also become my life partner — was sometimes challenging. Especially as we had really tight timelines. For instance, I really wanted to use fabric to cover the entire ceiling that would soften the visual aesthetic as you lay on the mattress and looked up to the ceiling, but due to technical issues it was not possible. So we decided to install foam boards for directional projection instead. Probably the most challenging aspect for us was managing a tight budget, especially with the high costs involved with the video projections and as well as insuring all musical artists were properly paid for their work. Despite these hurdles though, the overwhelmingly positive audience feedback made it all worthwhile.

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?
At this time I am working with my partner to run a gallery in Toronto where we are planning the next Dream Concerts events. We also organize a variety of events focusing mainly on such as visual art, fashion, music and technology. Additionally I collaborate with some friends to host sound healing events and I am also import and sell jewelry and clothing from some of my favourite indie designers in China.

Last year moving to Canada actually marked my first close involvement with the art world! As a child, I had studied painting for many years and even won a national prize. However, like many Asian families, my parents encouraged me to pursue a STEM career. While I love animals, my passion for creative pursuits has always been stronger.

After returning from the UK, I worked in Shanghai as an executive director for a couple of TV reality shows and later as a consultant at Ernst & Young. However, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted me to reconsider my career path, leading me to pursue my true passion for art. I am proud of my bravery and execution in making this transition.

What sets me apart is my diverse background and willingness to take bold steps to follow my dreams. I appreciate everything I have done and I have recently started to paint again, most often focusing those efforts on my cats. I find that combining art with my veterinary background is a unique and fulfilling way to bridge both of those worlds.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We welcome any cooperation for future Dream Concerts, including but not limited to performers, visual artists and mattress brands. We believe in mutual growth and success through collaboration. I am also keen to connect with more artistic healing workshops and organizations. We previously organized a unique painting workshop using expired makeup to create artwork, and I’m interested in more eco-friendly and feminist events.

If you have any ideas or would like to collaborate, please contact me via:

Phone: 437-410-9059
Email: louveed95@gmail.com
Instagram: @_louveed_
Gallery Location: studio IDFK, 190 McCaul St. Toronto

Looking forward to working together and creating something amazing!

Pricing:

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Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreamconcerts.live/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/_louveed_/

Image Credits
Ian Kelso
Mingjun Jiang
Arnie Guha
Daiva Zemaitis
Xiao Hu