Meet Wangkai Wei of Culver City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wangkai Wei.

Hi Wangkai, 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?
I spent almost seven years studying psychology and have been living in the US for 13 years now. Growing up in China wasn’t easy. My parents divorced, and my family situation was pretty complicated. In the collectivist culture of China, I always felt the need to follow those with more experience. This cultural expectation often put me in a tough spot, as I would receive advice and directions from multiple family members, each pointing me in completely different directions. This added to my confusion and led to me being seen as a “problem kid” since I barely communicated with my peers and frequently got into trouble.

For example, despite winning a flight modeling championship in my district, most people, including my teachers, considered me a poor student because I never got good grades in the “main subjects” like Mandarin, English, and math. These experiences made me introspective and curious about human behavior, which is why I got into psychology in the first place.

I graduated with a master’s in psychology from Pepperdine and worked as a BII (behavioral interventionist). I was all set to go for a PhD in cognitive psychology because I always wanted to understand the foundation of human cognition. However, the timing just wasn’t right. I struggled to find a mentor who aligned with my specific interests, and without the right guidance, pursuing the PhD didn’t work out.

Around 2020-2021, I started to notice I had a knack for visual arts. I always saw things differently and had a unique way of understanding the world. Without the money to go back to school for photography, I decided to teach myself. Every day, I’d take 36 pictures and spent a lot of time in the darkroom, figuring things out on my own. This self-taught journey was challenging but incredibly rewarding. I experimented constantly, believing that experimentation is the best way to learn.

During this time, I realized the importance of learning through exposure to different forms of art. I started exploring various artistic disciplines and used these experiences to develop new ideas, a process I see as a form of dialectical thinking. One day, while experimenting with light and shadows in my makeshift darkroom, I captured an image that felt like it perfectly represented the complexity of human emotion. This image became a turning point for me, solidifying my passion for photography.

For the past few years, I’ve been striving to establish myself as a photographer, but it wasn’t until the beginning of this year that I had a transformative experience. I attended a workshop with Alec Soth, a renowned American photographer known for his large-scale projects and evocative portraits. Alec’s work often explores themes of solitude and the American experience, and he has been a significant influence in contemporary photography.

During the workshop, Alec recommended that I experiment with my past experiences and integrate them into my photography. This advice resonated deeply with me. He suggested that by connecting my turbulent upbringing in China, my struggles with identity, and my journey through psychology, I could create more compelling and authentic work.

Inspired by Alec’s guidance, I began to weave my personal history into my photography. I revisited old memories, both painful and formative, and used them as a foundation for my projects. This approach not only enriched my work but also provided a therapeutic outlet for me to process my past.

Connecting my past experiences with my current work has been incredibly important. It’s like making the dots connect in a meaningful way, allowing me to see the bigger picture of my life and art. Each photograph I take now carries a piece of my history, a fragment of my journey from China to the US, from psychology to photography. This connection gives my work depth and authenticity, making it resonate more with others.

By 2024, all that hard work started to pay off. I got nominated for a few photography awards, and my work began to be published in magazines and on websites, which was incredibly encouraging. I remember the first time I saw my photo in print—it was a surreal experience, knowing that my self-taught skills had led to this recognition.

Now, I’m getting ready for my own exhibition, which is a huge milestone for me. This journey from psychology to photography has been anything but straightforward, but it’s taught me the value of perseverance and the power of following one’s passions. I hope to inspire others who are facing their own hurdles to keep pushing forward and to find their own unique paths.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Coming to the US was another significant challenge. I moved to Wisconsin when I was 14, living with a host family all by myself. The cultural shock was immense. I went from a bustling city in China to a small town in the Rust Belt, attending a Catholic school with hardly any Chinese students. I struggled to fit in and often felt isolated. During that time, I was exposing myself to a different culture and language. When I was in my host family’s basement, I spent most of my time listening to different talk shows, including George Carlin. This immersion helped me understand American humor and perspectives, but it was also a lonely period. I was all set to go for a PhD in cognitive psychology because I always wanted to understand the foundation of human cognition. However, the timing just wasn’t right. I struggled to find a mentor who aligned with my specific interests, and without the right guidance, pursuing the PhD didn’t work out. Working as a BII presented its own set of challenges. The job required constant interaction and managing a multitude of stimuli, which often felt overwhelming. I’m not a big fan of loud noise, and the environment sometimes made it difficult to process information efficiently. The role demanded a high level of attentiveness and patience, which could be mentally exhausting. Despite these challenges, the experience taught me a great deal about human behavior and reinforced my interest in understanding the intricacies of the mind. On the artistic side, transitioning into the world of photography presented a different set of social challenges. Socializing with a new group of photography artists felt almost like stepping back into my earlier stage of adapting to a new culture. It reminded me of the cultural shock I experienced when I first moved to the US. Engaging with fellow artists and sharing my work in this community required a different kind of social interaction, one that was both stimulating and intimidating.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My journey into photography has been largely self-taught. Without formal education in the field, I dedicated myself to learning the craft, taking 36 pictures a day and mastering darkroom techniques. This process was often lonely, as I spent countless hours in isolation, experimenting and refining my skills. However, the solitude also gave me the space to deeply engage with my thoughts and emotions, which is reflected in the introspective nature of my work. By 2024, my hard work started to pay off as I received nominations for several prestigious photography awards, and my work began to be published in magazines and on websites. In addition to photography, I’ve delved into various other art forms. I’ve created artist books that combine visual art with storytelling, offering a more intimate and tangible experience of my work. These books allow me to weave narratives that are both personal and universally relatable, providing another avenue to explore and express my ideas. I’ve also experimented with drawing, constantly trying to improve my skills and find new ways to articulate my vision. Learning to make newspapers has been another fascinating endeavor, where I explore the intersection of journalism and art, using the medium to present my photographs in a narrative context.
These diverse artistic pursuits have enriched my primary work in photography, allowing me to integrate different techniques and perspectives. Each medium offers a unique way to explore themes of identity, isolation, and cultural transition. Despite the challenges and loneliness of this self-taught journey, it has been incredibly rewarding. My ability to combine dark humor with deep introspection sets my work apart and allows me to connect with my audience on a more profound level.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned along my journey is the value of continuous learning and exposure to different forms of art and knowledge. This constant engagement enriches my memory system, allowing me to store and integrate diverse information effectively. In psychological terms, this process enhances my cognitive schema, expanding my understanding and creativity.

Throughout my complicated life journey, I’ve encountered numerous problems, both in art and in life. I’ve realized that solutions don’t always present themselves immediately. Often, it requires additional information or a new perspective to trigger or inspire the utilization of what I’ve learned. This process is akin to incubation in cognitive psychology, where allowing ideas to develop and mature over time can lead to more innovative and effective solutions.

Learning and exposure are not just about acquiring new knowledge but about letting that knowledge integrate and evolve within my mind. This approach has taught me that growth and creativity often come from allowing information to simmer and develop over time, leading to deeper insights and more meaningful artistic expressions.

By embracing this lesson, I’ve been able to navigate challenges more effectively and create work that resonates more profoundly. This journey of continuous learning and integration has enriched both my art and my understanding of the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wangkaiwei.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wangkai_wednesday/