We recently connected with Yu Fan and have shared our conversation below.
Yu, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
Some people get their creative inspiration from everyday life, finding different perspectives even in ordinary things. Others draw inspiration from mythology, using reading and imagination to portray imaginary worlds and emotions on paper. For me, inspiration mainly comes from my personal experiences and things I love, rather than relying on wild imagination. I have many hobbies like music, nature, fashion, and photography, all of which spark my creativity. I enjoy exploring new things, going to new places, meeting different people, and experiencing various cultures. Walking around the streets, visiting art galleries are some of the ways I unleash my creativity. Also, I believe it’s crucial to record inspiration promptly because it’s fleeting like shooting stars. That’s why I like to capture spontaneous photos, reflecting my understanding of the world rather than processed images by others.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and worked as a fashion designer assistant in the city for a year. However, I soon realized my interests extended beyond creating wearable clothing to combining fashion with illustration. This realization stemmed from my exposure to different fabrics and materials in fashion design, igniting my passion for material research. In my junior year, I specialized in knitwear, delving deep into the transformation of materials. For my thesis project, I integrated illustration with knitwear, initially designing a series of cat patterns in watercolor and then using various yarn thicknesses to knit these patterns onto garments, giving them a unique texture.
After working for a year, I enrolled in the graduate program at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to further study illustration and explore the combination of different materials and illustrations, such as clay, knitting, and tufting. At MICA’s art market and the MOCA art market in New York, I designed a series of cat tufting tote bags and cat keychains, receiving widespread praise. Now, I have established my own independent studio, “Momototo,” with plans to create more tufting tote bags, knit bags, and keychains, and intend to sell them at various markets across New York.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think the most important thing is to maintain a positive attitude, stay curious, and persevere. Keeping a positive attitude is key to overcoming challenges and difficulties. Also, staying curious can inspire us to keep learning and exploring, keeping us passionate and interested in life. Lastly, no matter how big the challenges and difficulties, we should persist in pursuing our goals and dreams.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
I think the most impactful thing my parents did for me was to always maintain a passion for learning and life. Especially my mother, who, in her forties, passed the entrance exam for a graduate program in China through self-study. During that time, she worked during the day and often studied until 2 a.m. at night, so it’s not surprising that she successfully applied to a prestigious school. Even now, she continues to cultivate new interests. After work, she goes to learn dance, play the zither, and practices calligraphy. My father is also learning photography. Their enthusiasm and spirit for learning new things deeply influenced me, so now I also enjoy learning new things anytime, believing that lifelong learning is a way of life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/yuqianfan
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuganida_art/
