Meet Nimo (Linqian) Jiang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nimo (Linqian) Jiang.

Hi Nimo (Linqian), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born in Changsha, a city located in the south of China. It’s not a big city, but a small, very life-like city with a slightly slower pace. Culturally I guess I come from a place of connection to the world. I was born in the last two years of the twentieth century and the Internet played an extremely important role in my upbringing. I live in a complex and exciting cultural environment where the Internet and globalized trade have led me to read from a wide range of sources. In addition to fictional manga from China, Japanese manga and anime, Disney animation, and European indie manga have given me an extremely rich reading experience. Being moved by the strong emotions in the stories and realizing what is worth pursuing, these strong emotions have influenced my life choices. As a result, I realized that fictional narratives have their power.

These experiences made me dream at a very young age of becoming someone who could bring the same touch to others. After my college entrance exam, I chose to major in art. I studied graphic design in college and later earned an MFA degree in the Illustration Practice program at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

To this day, I continue to value the expression of emotion in my creations and the feelings of the viewer when they view my works.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think it’s a smooth journey. It’s difficult to keep your head above water in a competitive business market. It’s easy to follow trends, and it’s easier to succeed by choosing a path that others have taken – I’ve been tempted by the easy option from time to time. I think it’s hard to reject options that are easy but don’t come from the heart. But as an independent artist and illustrator, I need to fight against this force.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think what I care most about in my creative work is the sincerity of the expression. I think that no matter how much one pretends, the audience can still intuitively detect the author’s personality and thoughts, as well as the existence of lies in work. I try to express only what I believe in. I am not against the use of rhetoric, but rather I believe that rhetoric is the ultimate tool for authors who are eager to get their ideas and feelings across. Therefore, to try to express love, care, and trust in my work, it is also important to try to practice these principles in the process of becoming a creator. I am trying to overcome the fear of self-imposed limits and self-doubt and put my true self into my work. It’s not about technique, it’s about focusing on the most genuine emotions, and that’s what I’m working towards. I think what sets me apart from others is the life that only I have experienced and my sensitive sensibility. I used to feel inferior for my over-sensitivity in my adolescence, but now I can gradually see it as part of my creative inspiration and feel proud of it.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I have recently been reacquainted with a very simple truth that everyone has heard before: hard work does not always pay off, but not working hard will lead to stagnation. I hope I will continue to live by this statement in my future career as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nimojiang.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimooko/