Today we’d like to introduce you to Wei Ren.
Much like other budding artists with a penchant for drawing since their formative years, my math books were adorned with sketches rather than equations. Reading Kai-Fu Lee’s ‘Making a World of Difference’ spurred me to reflect on the legacy I wished to leave behind. While scientific knowledge might be eclipsed by advanced technologies, art possesses an enduring ability to transcend historical periods. Each artwork is unique, leaving an indelible mark of the creator’s character. It was then that I committed to pursuing a career in art.
Although I embarked on my artistic journey later than most, not taking up drawing until high school, I chose a culturally focused high school in Shanghai over a prestigious one renowned for its recommendations. There, I immersed myself in environmental art design.
Keen to delve into the origins of art, I selected Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance, for my studies. After a year learning Italian in Siena, I recognized that Italy was better suited for enjoying life than rigorous studying. Despite traversing the entire country solo, attending numerous exhibitions and shows, I returned to China to advance my studies in interior design.
An opportunity arose to study interior and spatial design at the University of the Arts London (UAL). My exchange student year proved challenging yet enriching, culminating in my pursuit of a master’s degree. In London, I shifted from acquiring technical skills to evolving into a genuine artist, learning to design through research and context. As the sole exchange student at UAL during that period, I broadened my perspective.
After completing my initial interior design degree in China, I moved to Shenzhen for my first job as an interior designer. However, due to health issues, I transitioned to a role as an interior design tutor. My active mind led me to believe that interior design restricted the imaginative field. This prompted me to pursue a second master’s degree in environmental design for game development in San Francisco.
During the extensive MFA program, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated my stay in China, balancing work with studies. Additionally, I initiated two business ventures in China. In 2023, I concluded my studies in San Francisco. Thanks to OPT regulations, I am currently in the USA. The educational experiences in the UK and the USA varied significantly. While the USA’s system resembled that of China, the UK emphasized research and context in their study approach.
Reflecting on my unique educational journey across various countries and degrees in design and art, I aim to distill an art language capable of permeating any artistic or design field. Termed as an art language, it aligns with fine art principles. I firmly believe that an artist’s past experiences significantly influence their artwork. Now, at this stage of my life, I aspire to apply this art language to the contemporary digital art world.
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
This is a little poem ‘ The road not taken’ from Robert Frost. At a very young age, I made the unconventional choice to anchor all my beliefs in the realm of art. With no familial ties to the art world and lacking the financial resources typically associated with pursuing an art education, I faced a significant challenge when confronted with a crucial decision point. Persistent financial challenges compounded my struggle to determine the direction I should take. Witnessing many individuals engaging in occupations solely for monetary gain and resorting to unethical practices added to the complexity of my journey.
Moreover, a pivotal shift occurred when I decided to switch my major from interior architecture to the game industry. Surprisingly, this transition unfolded swiftly, and within just six months, I found myself immersed in the role of a concept artist.
I am a spatial environment designer and artist with a focus on both tangible and virtual realms, specializing in environment concepts.
Upon exploring my portfolio, you will encounter a diverse range of my work, spanning from 2D elements like concept art, graphic design, illustration, layouts, paintings, and photography to 3D creations, including installations, interior designs, window displays, and performance art. Among my favorite art pieces are those unrelated to commercial endeavors—unfinished works in progress. While commercial artworks may seem transient and market-driven, I prefer pieces that reflect my personal experiences. An example is my incomplete work, the Limbo Pavilion, the focal point of my first master’s graduation project, symbolizing my enduring journey and incorporating the challenges I faced, remaining unfinished.
The pavilion is an attempt to merge science and art together into an architectural structure situated in front of the St Thomas’ Hospital’s garden. The pavilion is regarded as a gravitational singularity through the neurological form, which deals with the idea of uncertainty in quantum physics. It draws inspirations from the neurons which demonstrate the connection of various spaces. It is a temporary changeable user-defined structure. Part of the pavilion’s—the ceiling is set up already by the constructers while part of the walls remains to be assembled by the audiences. By walking through the pavilion, the audiences would go through a space that is neither inside nor outside, and neither completed nor indeterminate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://
yuiisuniquegenius.myportfolio. com/concept-art！ - Instagram: yuis_artwork
