Today we’d like to introduce you to Xinyu Wo
Hi Xinyu, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
am a Chinese artist currently working and living in New York. Before moving to New York, I never imagined myself identifying as an “artist” and primarily making a living from it.
I was born in a small coastal town near Shanghai, China. Due to family circumstances, I was often seen as different by others, so I spent a lot of time alone. During my childhood, two things gave me a strong sense of fulfillment: browsing various books in bookstores to understand the world and attending art classes to learn painting. The vibrant colors, lines, and stories of characters in art books filled me with an unprecedented excitement. At that time, I thought that creating something for the world with these simple elements would bring incomparable joy.
When it was time for the college entrance exam, I initially wanted to study law at a law school and become a lawyer, doing what a “normal middle-class child” should do. However, I discovered that I only felt true happiness when engaged in creative activities, so I ultimately enrolled in the China Academy of Art.
My days at the art academy were incredibly relaxed and liberating, but at that time, I never considered becoming an artist in the future because the identity of an “artist” seemed so unrealistic. Four years of rigorous oil painting training gave me a solid foundation in painting. However, contemporary art and art trading were still relatively young in China, and I wanted to broaden my horizons, so I came to New York.
During my 2 years of study at the New York School of Visual Arts, I received a more systematic professional artist training. New York is a city full of challenges and opportunities, and it is a place with diverse cultures. Here, I gained unprecedented creative ideas. In 2020, when the pandemic forced everyone to stay at home, I started creating experimental videos. At that time, to create these videos, I drew many storyboards. I incorporated my emotions, views of the world, and aesthetic perceptions into my storyboards. However, during the process of creating these storyboards, I found a new painting technique that suited me.
Back in China, most artists were experimenting with forms and materials in painting to seek breakthroughs. There was a time when I felt that painting as an art form might have reached a dead end. But through creating storyboards for videos during the pandemic, I discovered that I could use my solid oil painting skills to depict the vibrant, wild, and fantastical world I envisioned. Each of my paintings is imbued with strong storytelling and a surreal atmosphere. Few artists truly focus on the narrative of their artwork. At that time, I vaguely felt that this could become a new direction for my creative work. But I still didn’t think about becoming a painter.
After the pandemic, it was time for graduation, internships, job hunting, and a series of busy and mundane tasks. At that time, I just wanted to find a job first, anything would do, as I needed to support myself. In the first year or two after graduation, I almost exclusively helped others with their businesses, working 5 days a week at the company. Although the repetitive office life was stable, I started asking myself: Is this how you want to spend the rest of your life? Is this the meaning of my life?
A person has 24 hours in a day, with 9 hours for rest, 4 hours for handling daily tasks, and 1 hour for phone use, leaving around 10 hours spent mostly working. That was two years ago, when I was 26 years old, I thought it was time to consider what kind of job I should choose to spend each day. But definitely not to help capitalists make money. Now I am an artist, and I often have many people ask me: why did you choose this path at the time? The truth is, my thoughts were really simple: it’s something I love to do; it’s something I am good at doing; and I can also earn a bit of income through buying and selling artwork.
When I first decided to become an artist, I had to go to the office 5 days a week, so I used the 4 hours after work each day and weekends to create paintings. I posted my created artworks on Instagram, and slowly, a few months later, some art dealers found me and invited me to participate in group exhibitions. A few months later, VillageoneArt Gallery offered me my first solo exhibition. I am very grateful to VillageoneArt Gallery for creating this opportunity for me. Most of my work was sold, and through this solo exhibition, many galleries and collectors took notice of me. I then continued to participate in various exhibitions, accumulating experience and updating my ideas. Becoming an artist means constantly facing challenges in life and creation, but I enjoy this work and life. This is the meaning of my life: continuous learning, innovation, and challenges.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course not, not everyone can easily achieve success. By the end of 2022, in preparation for my first solo exhibition in New York, I quit my full-time job. It was like gambling at the time, as I didn’t know what would happen.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My art aims to explore the connection between human nature and social reality, triggering viewers to reflect on their inner worlds through visual presentation. Immersed in observing absurd social realities and personal histories, I seek to find the brightness of humanity amidst chaotic societal images. Influenced by philosophers like Kant, my contemplation of moral laws and the beauty of human nature drives me to continually explore the meaning of human existence. I believe that moral laws and the beauty of human nature represent the ultimate pursuit of civilization, embodying the noble quest of the human spirit. Therefore, my creative process is an exploration of the positive aspects of human nature, showcasing the beauty I see through visual representation.
In the exploration of social reality and personal history, I strive to capture visually captivating elements, infusing images with dramatic tension and surrealist associations. Interweaving dreams with reality through representational oil painting techniques, I construct personal memories that intertwine space and time, illustrating the connection between the inner world and external reality. By dramatizing images to increase tension and using surrealist techniques to arrange elements, I aim to attract viewers to explore the meanings behind my works. The allure of surrealism lies in metaphor and suggestion, aiming to arouse curiosity in viewers towards the unknown. I hope that viewers can experience the mystery and magic through my artworks.
Aside from observing social reality and personal history, I enjoy analyzing my own actions and thoughts, exploring the memories and meanings behind human behavior. Deepening my understanding of human nature through psychology, I delve into questions about what it means to be human and the essence of human nature. I believe that art is not only about the pursuit of beauty but also an expression of human emotions and the spiritual realm. Through my artworks, I aim to evoke resonance in viewers’ innermost selves, sparking contemplation and exploration of the beauty of human nature. My creations aim to awaken people’s pursuit of hope and belief, bringing a ray of positivity to society and guiding people to reexamine the relationship between human nature and society.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Constant creation, constant innovation, this can make the world a little better.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wo_xinyu/
