Today we’d like to introduce you to Yutong Xie.
Hi Yutong, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Luzhou, Sichuan, China, and proudly identify as a Sichuanese. My journey took me to New York, where I pursued my college education and embarked on my path as a visual artist. Immersing myself in the vibrant and diverse cultural milieu of the city as an outsider shaped the essence of my surrealist design expression, infusing it with warmth.
During my time in college, I eagerly enrolled in design studio classes, fully dedicating myself to the practice of visual art. It was then that I realized my desire to cultivate sustainable living through design thinking. After delving into the realms of digital design and communication for a year, I commenced my career as a graphic designer, working with a photography studio and a jewelry store. These experiences ignited a fire within me, propelling me forward.
As I progressed in life, I ventured into the realm of technology, exploring design as a visual artist. Virtual reality and game design allowed me to appreciate the multifaceted environment in which diverse design works could be created and expressed in multidimensional styles. Within the city, I found great joy in collaborating with artists from various disciplines, such as musicians and filmmakers, on nonprofit visual art projects. The entire experience, along with every creative collaborator, has filled me with immense gratitude and has shaped my perception of the art of work itself.
For me, visual art serves as a communication tool, facilitating an understanding of the world through design interaction. Listening to people’s stories, their upbringing, preferences, and emotions brings me immense satisfaction. Each person carries a unique narrative and a world of imagination to share, and I take pleasure in designing for their wholesome dreams. Emotions and conflicts serve as my teachers, while nature and the realm of memes inspire my aesthetic choices.
My visual art practice revolves around everyday street fashion, the Internet, and speculative technology design. I strive to create fantastical worlds that captivate and overwhelm my audience with emotionally evocative colors and textures. I transform these dreams into tangible forms through shareable media. By collaborating with filmmakers, musicians, and web projects, I relish the opportunity to blend ambiguity and subtlety into my designs, incorporating a myriad of global languages. Camp aesthetics infused with elements of brutalist maximalism encapsulate my design aesthetic. If I were to describe it, envision a vibrant horror escape room reminiscent of a Si-Chuan hotpot bubbling with neon stars at its core, and concealed within, a secret tunnel leading to the Milky Way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Born in the 1990s, my childhood in China was marked by constant movement as my parents strived to provide me with a quality education and a diverse lifestyle. Despite being connected to my hometown of Luzhou, I longed for a deeper sense of belonging and a thriving social life. Taking the leap to a foreign country on my own was a soul-shaking experience that fortified my resilience.
Over the course of four years, I immersed myself in learning the language, culture and adapting to the unique beauty of being a Chinese artist in New York. Seeking a profound connection with the fleeting nature of time, I express my emotions and newfound knowledge through technology-driven design that looks toward the future. New York, a city that embraces authenticity and celebrates diversity, became my greatest teacher.
By opening myself up to other artists, I began to forge friendships and collaborate on art projects with individuals I deeply admired. It wasn’t until around the fifth year that a semblance of comfort settled upon me in this bustling city. The inherent discomfort of being a foreigner granted me creative freedom, while my Chinese identity, enriched by the Ba-Shu Culture coursing through my veins, bestowed upon me a unique perspective.
My focus now lies in creating art that showcases the diverse tapestry of Chinese culture, language, regional dialects, and international influences. Through my journey of discovering the world, I have found solace in personal growth, embraced by warmth and love.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At present, I lead a fulfilling life as both a homemaker and a visual artist. I primarily focus on independent filmmaking, and as a collaborative endeavor, I assume various responsibilities, including overall branding, visual art, and production design.
One project that brings me immense joy is the web series “Internet Legend 2100,” a personal venture in which I collaborated with talented independent artists from New York City, namely Michael Cong, Kadi Tsang, Bale Wen, Ava Chen, Marco Villard, and Lola Max. Within this collaboration, I took charge of designing the visual world, costumes, makeup, and post-production visuals. To bring my retro-futuristic international vision to life, I employ a combination of Adobe Creative tools, the Unity game engine, and the online modeling program Tinkered. This ongoing project serves as a fictional narrative set in the year 2100, delving into a science fiction fantasy realm.
As part of my exploration into character design and creative collaboration, I invited my friends to join me in creating proof-of-concept internet art pieces, which we then published online for the world to see. This endeavor not only allows us to experiment and push boundaries but also facilitates our collective growth as artists. I firmly believe that humans are multidimensional beings, and I relish the opportunity to engage in multiple creative pursuits simultaneously. I welcome any role that allows me to exercise my creativity.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I am immensely grateful for my childhood in Lu Zhou, 泸州 (lú zhōu), Si Chuan, China. The memories of my hometown fill me with joy and appreciation. The streets, bustling with the aroma of spicy beef noodles sold at breakfast stores, the fragrant spices and herbs laid out by vendors, and the humid air carrying the scent of summer flowers and lush foliage all contribute to the sensory tapestry of Lu Zhou.
Lu Zhou is a city where people truly relish life, boldly expressing their individualism through vibrant, everyday fashion and a rich food culture characterized by bold and spicy flavors. In my design world, this authentic attitude, infused with my own sense of humor, finds its roots in the lively experiences of my childhood in Lu Zhou.
The city boasts a landscape adorned with river valleys, hills, and mountains. Its subtropical climate blesses the city and its inhabitants with gentle breezes throughout the year. I fondly recall the arrival of summer in my hometown, after dramatic rain showers and thunderstorms, when the atmosphere would be filled with peaceful and joyful energy. People would gather by the streets, playing Sichuan Mahjong, sipping tea, and sharing boisterous laughter. Growing up in a city permeated with kindness and optimism taught me the value of finding joy in every situation, wherever I may be. It instilled within me the belief that I can be a beacon of light even in the darkest moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://yutongxie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yutongxiedotcom/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-s-2t9p9J2qzkl5Kb-yB3BlGq_CtZSPI
Image Credits
Yutong Xie
