Meet Mengjie Mo

We recently connected with Mengjie Mo and have shared our conversation below.

Mengjie, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome has been bothering me for a long time. Even now, I sometimes struggle to believe that I am truly an artist. Despite not always trusting myself, I do trust the objects I create. That, I suppose, is a privilege for those who bring ideas into the world. I often hide behind my work because it represents my true self more accurately than anything else. While I can lie to myself and others, my artwork remains honest. When I am creating, I am forced to confront my real self. Otherwise, I feel I am wasting my time, and I don’t want my time to be wasted. Since I began making art, I’ve never felt better. When I am beading, I recognize that I am the only one who can bring this individual piece into existence. I enjoy and celebrate my humanity through my art.

To manage imposter syndrome, I recommend facing and taming them by acknowledging their presence. Write a list of your accomplishments and the things that make you feel good. For example, “I can drive,” “I know how to weld,” or “I can draw perfect eyeliner.” Make sure the list is long, and whenever you doubt yourself, read it and add one or two more items. This practice has helped me immensely.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a human, a feminist, an artist, and a beader. In my art experience, I’ve portrayed my inner journey through performances, jewelry pieces, and sculptures. I examine the various values of the color and concept of red and use my voice and tactile sensations to describe my inner experience. The oddity of randomness and the beauty of mathematical logic occurring in the same piece represents that I am using my work as an outlet to explore a random woman’s adventure in this world. Textile and beading work throughout history have shackled women’s lives but also contain women’s magic. By using the tension of beads and thread, my practice calls back the memory of typical historical women’s labor. But now women’s traditional skills are my new weapon to fight patriarchy. While I am most familiar with such endeavors within feminism, my practice is also expanding into smoothing out self-other power struggles in other relationships, advocating for a more interconnected and inclusive world.

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?

I say sincerity, love, and positivity. No matter who you are or where you are, maintaining a positive outlook is key to improving life. Love your family and neighbors, cherish the people you meet each day, and show kindness to everyone. We all deserve a better world, and we are the bearers of love.

I struggled to confront my true self, but I’ve learned that sincerity doesn’t alienate people. On the contrary, revealing my fragile and sensitive side is an act of bravery. I draw strength from sincerity because I know I am strong enough; no matter what happens, I am able to protect myself.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I have been challenging myself to explore my capabilities. If you’re interested in my work and have any collaboration ideas—whether for exhibitions, fashion, installations, or more—please contact me at @mlikeadoor.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silentdog.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mlikeadoor/

Image Credits

Vera Wei
Eric Perry