Today we’d like to introduce you to Fengyi Ye.
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 artistic journey began in the vibrant city of Rome, Italy, where I was born and spent my formative years surrounded by rich history and artistic heritage. After completing primary school there, life took an adventurous turn as I moved to Shanghai at the age of 12 and then to a British international school at 14. Today, I am a New-York based illustrator with a passion for creating art that goes beyond aesthetics and makes a tangible impact on communities. These relocations exposed me to a multitude of people, cultures, and ideologies, teaching me the value of approaching the world with an open mind and a sense of wonder.
Being trilingual and having lived in different countries, I have embraced the beauty of diversity, which has profoundly shaped my art and the values in life. The emotional connection I build with myself and the outer world through introspection and self-awareness enables me to empathize and connect with others on a deeper level.
When I’m not in my studio, you’ll often find me lost in the rhythmic melodies of my piano and guitar, exploring every nook and cranny of the city with my camera lens and trying out new passions. Armed with an insatiable curiosity and fearlessness to explore new things, I continue to journey through life and art, seeking inspiration from art, music, fashion, architecture, travel, interior design, gardens, and animals. I have come to understand that the journey itself holds more significance than reaching a destination. My favorite quote, ‘Always travel, never arrive’, encapsulates my belief in the importance of continuous exploration and the perpetual quest for knowledge.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey hasn’t been a smooth road. Lingering between different countries, I faced constant challenges in overcoming language barriers (Chinese, Italian, English) and bridging cultural gaps. As a young girl, I sought a true sense of belonging and love but took a long time to grasp their meanings.
In my artistic journey, I find myself constantly drawn to explore new styles and mediums, which sometimes creates a conflict between conforming to the industry’s expectations and following my inner voice, especially when the illustration industry often emphasizes having a distinct and recognizable style. Yet, I have come to accept that this constant desire for trying new things is a vital part of who I am as an artist. I believe I’m still on my journey of seeking alignment – merging multiple facets of myself into a cohesive whole.
This process of self-discovery is like being in the vast ocean, feeling the sand beneath my feet but not quite being able to step on it. I hover at the edge of my comfort zone, yearning to reach out and touch something new and unexplored.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Through my artwork, I delve into cross-cultural themes from various perspectives, aiming to foster understanding and acceptance of cultural diversity while also expressing my dual identity with influences from both Western and Eastern traditions. By playing with distorted ratios and elegantly reorganizing elements, I convey the fragmentation and multiplicity of cultural heritage. Some of my works intimately reflect my personal cultural journey, depicting my self-healing process of overcoming past obstacles.
One of my most notable achievements is the successful commercial project titled “Zodiac Rabbit 2023.” Inspired by my research on “China-Chic” culture, the project received overwhelming support on Chinese social media platforms and involved collaboration with the Shanghai puzzle company and China Central Television (CCTV). I take immense pride in its recognition by two prestigious global Illustration competitions, where it won awards and was shortlisted in the Advertising category for ‘Word of Illustration 2023’ and the ‘Society of Illustrators.’ These achievements have been featured on official websites and have garnered attention from audiences worldwide. You can check it out by clicking on the following link:
Looking ahead, I am thrilled to start my new project for “Zodiac 2024: Dragon” in the coming months. I aim to continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and cultural expression.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The Covid-19 crisis has taught me some intriguing and crucial lessons. It has reinforced the idea that we are all equals, going through the same difficult experience despite being physically separated in our homes. This sense of shared struggle has brought us closer together in unexpected ways.
Interestingly, the pandemic has also caused a shift in the art world. Before Covid-19, the ratio of traditional and digital artists seemed balanced, but now there is a noticeable trend of more artists transitioning to digital work, myself included. This phenomenon made me contemplate deeply because I realized that working traditionally and digitally offers different experiences.
Working digitally grants more freedom as we can easily correct mistakes and delete layers, but it can also constrain us from embracing the natural imperfections that make our lines and artwork special. To counteract this, I have consciously changed my approach to drawing. Now, I focus on drawing freely and with relaxation, valuing the essence of my initial sketches over achieving overly perfect and fine lines.
To maintain this mindset, I have committed to working in a sketchbook the size of my hand and carrying only a pen wherever I go. I challenge myself to sketch anything that catches my eye, capturing the present moment without relying on an eraser. This process helps me let go of my obsession with perfection and nurture a more genuine and authentic expression.
Amidst the technological advancements, I fear losing the emotional depth in my creations. I strive to avoid mechanization and monotony in my work, yearning to reconnect with the uninhibited joy of drawing with the freedom and flaws I experienced as a child.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.fengyiye-art.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artblog.yfy/
- Other: https://theaoi.com/wia/fengyi-ye-zodiac-rabbit-2023/
