Today we’d like to introduce you to Han Bao
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Han Bao. I was borned in Wenzhou and grew up in Shanghai and am currently a new media artist and graphic designer. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication Design from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology and am now in my second year at California Institute of the Arts, majoring in Art and Technology.
From a young age, my parents encouraged me to engage in various forms of artistic education, including calligraphy, painting, violin, and guitar. My grandfather, who was an editor-in-chiefe and a poet, often shared and created classical Chinese poems with me. These experiences helped me develop an early awareness of the world and planted the seeds for my journey in art and design.
During my undergraduate studies, I became fascinated by the emerging visual arts driven by technological advancements. This led me to constantly integrate new media into my work, ranging from traditional graphic illustration and bookbinding to programming art and virtual reality. Exploring different media and finding new expression are what drive my creative practice.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, there were quite a few struggles during this period, which I regard as valuable experiences. The most significant one was the transition from design to artistic creation. I was accustomed to completing predetermined assignments, but when it came to creating independently, I found myself lost. Fortunately, through constant communication with the faculties and my cohorts during this transition, I gradually clarified my creative purpose and direction, deciding to start something not ambitious and begin with self-exploration.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My current artistic creation involves continuous exploration and reflection on digital media, spanning multiple technological eras from the raw, primitive imagery of the early internet to emerging art forms like virtual reality (VR). I have a deep fascination with the products of early technology, especially the unrefined and powerful visual language of the early 21st century internet and gaming. The images of that time, though rough, were authentic and filled with unpolished creativity and vitality, becoming a significant source of inspiration for my work.
At the same time, I remain attentive to and embrace the development of new technologies, viewing them as opportunities to create new artistic languages. Technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), and game development engines provide me with new means of expression, enabling me to explore the effects of different technologies and create more immersive and interactive experiences. I hope to not only transport audiences into new artistic spaces but also encourage them to contemplate the relationship between technology and humanity through their participation.
My work serves as a dialogue not only with myself but also between the past and the future—striving to find a balance between the nostalgia for old technologies and the infinite possibilities of emerging ones. This balance serves as the foundation for my deep exploration of dreams, space, and perception. I believe that art is not only a reflection on the past but also a vision for the future, and the continuous evolution of technology offers endless creative possibilities for both.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I have so many wonderful childhood memories, but what stands out to me the most and often appears in my dreams is wandering through the narrow alleys of my hometown and tasting the local delicacies.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neil_bhan/
