We were lucky to catch up with Jiayun Chen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jiayun, 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?
It’s quite exhilarating when I’m in a creative flow. Every artist knows this feeling. However, that doesn’t happen every day. I’m not the type of artist who goes to the studio daily. I let myself wonder around, observe and daydream, and I’ve also learned to intentionally, and sometimes forcefully, put myself in the zone of creating. Ultimately, a big part of it is discipline. The key is to have a curious eye. Whatever you’re interested in, whether it’s mundane or profound, it can lead to creativity.
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 introduce myself as an artist when I first meet someone, but the term has many layers for me. I see an artist as someone passionate about particular subjects and fresh perspectives. An artist is an inventor driven by curiosity and strong emotions. As an artist, I’m intrigued by various things. I love the application of humor, the function of language, and the constant battle between control and chaos. Currently, I’m interested in the mistranslation between different languages and am working on a series that explores the poetics and humor in mistranslation.
It has been a busy year since I graduated from USC Roski. My passion for collaborating with other creatives has led me to many opportunities to work with artists, designers, and curators. Since last year, I have participated in gallery shows, experimental art spaces, and community-based projects, including working with LA Artcore, Charlie James Gallery, and Orlando. Right now, I’m working with my friend Cuixi Lin on an installation project about the imagined world of foreign lands. We both come from Wenzhou, a city in China known for its emigrating population overseas. I find it fascinating to reflect on how we used to envision the outside world as children, based on the gifts our relatives brought back from Italy or the US. It’s a world that only exists in our imagination. My work will be featured in the group show “Eleven Kinds of Beds” at the Hong Museum. This will be the first time I showcase my work in my hometown, and I am very excited about it.
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?
The three most important qualities of a good artist, to me, are staying true to your practice, supporting your artist friends, and presenting your values and beliefs through art. These are the parameters I consider when admiring other artists. We are all shaped by our nature and surroundings. Staying true to your practice means the creative process should be enjoyable, even though there are undoubtedly painful parts. It is also a learning journey about oneself.
It’s exciting to see distinct personalities shine through in art, whether they are goofy, warm, or witty. It’s as if a part of the artist transforms and becomes part of the artwork. Six years of art school gave me the space and time to find my voice—the subject matter that fascinates me and the language through which I express my art. I particularly admire artists with a multidisciplinary practice, exploring various mediums and subject matters. This attitude of trying everything is something I deeply respect.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I have Peter Fischli and David Weiss’ print “How to Work Better” set as my screensaver, which I look at daily. As much as this duo is known for their playful and unserious art, I take this work very seriously. The text in this work goes:
How to work better:
1. Do one thing at a time
2. Know the problem
3. Learn to listen
4. Learn to ask questions
5. Distinguish sense from nonsense
6. Accept change as inevitable
7. Admit mistakes
8. Say it simple
9. Be calm
10. Smile
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jiayunchenstudio.cargo.site/
- Instagram: @11×111
Image Credits
Yuchi Ma and Alan Torres
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