Conversations with Shuning Wang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shuning Wang.

Hi Shuning, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Suzhou, China, a city immersed in nearly four thousand years of history, boasting a rich cultural and artistic atmosphere that has thrived since ancient times. As the first and only one in my family to pursue art, I acknowledge that my diverse interests stem from my mother’s vibrant love for life and expressive drawings in her diary, as well as my father’s craftsmanship and his dedicated, inquisitive approach to everything. Growing up in their nurturing presence, I’ve been profoundly influenced and inspired by their passion. Reflecting on my childhood, my love for drawing sprouted from a natural attraction to vivid colors, the joy of creation, and my unique way of connecting with the world by expressing my observations.

What initially began as a fondness for drawing transformed into a deep exploration of art and culture. Studying at the School of Visual Arts in New York exposed me to diverse perspectives, challenging my perceptions. Moving abroad brought cultural shock but also led to a transformative embrace of mindfulness, unveiling the enduring strength of my cultural roots.

This realization became the essence of my artistic voice—a narrative woven from diverse cultures and mindfulness. Motivated by this awareness and cultural exploration, my art now revolves around subtle visuals that encourage reflection on the therapeutic nature of everyday experiences. My commitment to mindfulness and cultural understanding propels my creative pursuits, turning my childhood passion for art into a conduit for profound expression and connection with the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
During my initial year abroad, cultural shock left me grappling with enduring inferiority, particularly in pop culture discussions. Eager for acceptance, I inadvertently downplayed my cultural confidence. However, mindfulness sparked a remarkable change, transcending negative emotions and prompting a deeper exploration of my cultural roots. Immersed in Eastern philosophical thought, I embraced nuanced perspectives, understanding the intertwining of Eastern and Western cultures like the dance of yin and yang, fostering equality, inclusivity, and enrichment. Echoing the Tao Te Ching’s wisdom that “Being and non-being beget each other,” in our ever-evolving world, everything is relative and interconnected, and enduring truth remains elusive. This non-dualistic realization sparked a transformative shift, fostering a more expansive mindset. Previous frustrations evaporated as I adopted a broader perspective, bringing inner tranquility, adaptability, and heightened empathy. This transformation not only molded my values but also directed the course of my artistic exploration, profoundly influencing its trajectory.

Post-pandemic, armed with a profound understanding of my cultural roots and the resilience drawn from it, I returned to New York to continue my studies in Illustration at SVA. Immersed in the vibrant diversity of one of the world’s most multicultural cities, I conceived the “Impermanence” series—a collection of illustrations using visual storytelling to articulate the varied moods of characters at different life stages. Inspired by the fusion of Eastern cultural concepts and Western modern literature, these pieces encapsulate my belief that life mirrors a journey shaped by undulating waves and permeated with impermanence. Delving into visual storytelling to depict the theme of impermanence across diverse temporal and spatial contexts, my intention is to motivate audiences to break free from limited perspectives and prompt introspection.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My illustration works often capture fleeting moments with warm tones and block-dominant, fluid lines, creating a visual delight that draws attention to the healing nature of everyday experiences. Employing a unique technique, I blur the edges of color blocks, giving each block a dreamlike glow. The inspiration for contour handling comes from the Impressionist pioneer Cézanne, who broke away from traditional rigid outlines. The subtle, almost ethereal edges hover between fantasy and observation, creating a gentle ambiance. I overlay a texture created through silk screen printing, disrupting the perfect smoothness of digital painting brushes and introducing a natural, primitive texture. This preference aligns with my exploration of aesthetics in daily life, rooted in my reflections and self-awareness.

Growing up in the intensely competitive society of East Asia, I once pursued perfection, but the realization that such tension robbed life of its joy and inherent creativity led me to value imperfection. After reconciling with myself, my perspective shifted: rather than being meticulously crafted into a flawless diamond, I prefer to be a naturally weathered stone, embracing the unpredictability of nature and my innate uniqueness. Indeed, I aspire for my works to become increasingly imperfect, as imperfection itself is a unique form of perfection.

Beyond capturing the beauty of fleeting moments, when creating illustrations for books or editorial articles, I excel in using techniques that break the constraints of time and space. I represent different times and spaces in the same picture, often transitioning through an element like water. I appreciate the inclusivity of water. Through this feature, I explore a paradoxical balance in my creations, seeking authenticity without sacrificing expressive sensibility. I present different temporal backgrounds within the same series or image, aiming to guide viewers to discover the eternal beauty of the present moment while breaking through the limitations of perspective and embracing a broader view.

In my works, I particularly enjoy employing paper engineering in conjunction with illustration as a medium. This, in itself, is a healing process for me. I allow my feelings to guide me, permitting consciousness to direct my pen and scissors in expressing myself freely. Through this unadulterated approach, I aim to convey the moments of healing in my current existence and disseminate these uplifting instances of positive energy through my works. Simultaneously, I integrate illustration with rational design considerations, engaging in numerous trials and errors to find the most suitable three-dimensional paper art mechanisms. I am trying to present visually rich effects for both myself and the readers, striving for a harmonious blend of emotional expression and thoughtful design in every creation.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a child who enjoyed breaking conventions. Almost every teacher’s evaluation during my childhood mentioned that I could be the most well-behaved kid in class at times, but I also had moments of mischievousness that were hard to comprehend. I cherished such feedback, as it symbolized my flexibility, adaptability, and, most importantly, my creativity. This flexibility can be attributed to my parents being busy during my early years, leading them to enroll me in after-school programs. In those free hours of exploration, I had the liberty to pursue any interest, fostering a wide range of hobbies, from painting and playing the guzheng to calligraphy and even martial arts.

However, among all my interests, drawing remained my absolute favorite. When my primary school teacher inquired about my aspirations for the future, my response was straightforward and unwavering—I simply wanted to be someone who could always draw and create. Yet, it wasn’t until my teenage years that I truly comprehended the fortune of freely expressing myself through creation and the unforeseen challenges that accompanied this seemingly simple endeavor. During this period, various forms of resistance emerged against my modest act of drawing, stemming from genuine care, concern, and love. The reason it is described as “In the Name of Love” is due to my deep understanding, perhaps stemming from their experiences in a particular era of China or from observations of society, that the elders of my parent’s generation were deeply concerned that a child pursuing a life in the arts might face numerous economic hardships in the future. I have suffered pain and even depression when unable to continue creating and had to put all my time into scores and ranking during those three years in middle school.

Yet, my personality ultimately used empathy to dissolve the resentment I harbored during my teenage years when I was banned from pursuing artistic ideals. Most fortunate was that the prohibition on creation during that period, after escaping rote education, ignited even greater enthusiasm in me for artistic expression, ultimately touching those who had once opposed me. Up until now, I am grateful at all times for the freedom to create and paint. Thinking back to moments of depression only fuels my motivation and intensifies my thirst for creativity and knowledge. It’s akin to someone who has experienced hunger, cherishing food down to the marrow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shuningw.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eunice.w_art/