Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ruonan Yang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ruonan, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
Keeping creativity alive for me is a constant process of exploration, learning and exchange. First and foremost, I am convinced that inspiration is everywhere – it can come from both the details of daily life and my in-depth study of traditional culture and technology. I often combine traditional cultural elements and instruments with new media technologies, which is not only an innovative way to try to bridge the past and the present, but also a source of new inspiration that I constantly find.
In addition, I am committed to interdisciplinary learning and practice. By combining visual design, interactive installations and digital art, I am able to explore the boundaries between different systems and disciplines, and this cross-boundary process of innovation is in itself a way to stimulate creativity. For example, by learning and applying new software and programming languages, I am able to continually push my work forward, presenting new and unexplored forms of expression.
Finally, I also focus on reflection and self-challenge. Regularly reviewing my works and the creative process gives me the opportunity to think about how to transcend existing creative modes and technical limitations and find new ways of expression. I always maintain a sense of curiosity and the courage to try out ideas that seem impossible. It is this continuous exploration and challenge that enables me to move forward on the path of artistic creation.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My artistic creations span the fields of interactive installation, visual design, and digitally generated art, exploring new possibilities of interaction between humans and machines through the combination of new media technologies and traditional culture. My professional focus is to utilize multi-sensory interactions to explore the complex relationship between identity, technology and the environment, especially how to connect the past and the future through art creation, demonstrating the ability of technology to connect the flow of time.
What excites me most is the ability of my work to serve as a bridge between different cultures and eras. By incorporating traditional cultural practices, texts, motifs and musical instruments into modern digital art, I not only preserve the spiritual and aesthetic values of these elements, but also give them a new life and expression. This cross-generational dialog not only enhances the audience’s knowledge and appreciation of traditional culture, but also opens up new frontiers of modern artistic expression.
I want people to understand that my brand and artwork emphasize a spirit of continuous exploration and innovation. Through my artistic practice, I am committed to encouraging people to think about and experience the interaction between technology and everyday life, and how art can help us connect and understand the world we live in more deeply.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Interdisciplinary exploration and learning skills, understanding and respect for cultural depth, and curiosity about different areas of technology and media. Continuous learning is not limited to knowledge within the field of art, but should also include knowledge in various fields such as technology, humanities and social sciences. Stay curious and keep trying new creative methods and techniques, as well as deeply understanding and respecting different cultures and traditions, so that your work can have a broader vision and deeper connotation. Finally, don’t be afraid of failure; every attempt is a step forward and an opportunity to learn and grow.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
Eduardo Kac and Nicolas Collins have had a profound impact on my creative journey. Through Eduardo Kac’s work, this has led me to explore the relationship between life, morality, and hierarchy through the inclusivity of art, allowing me to see the artwork itself as an organism. At the same time, in terms of the use of media in the creative process, Nicolas Collins’ book “Handmade Electronic Music” made me start to think about the functionality of sound as a medium. I began to explore how to change the interaction and environment through the medium, and tried to create works by changing the qualities of the medium itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ruonan.xyz/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruonanyang.project/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruonan-yang-619918240/
