Meet Litong Zeng

We were lucky to catch up with Litong Zeng recently and have shared our conversation below.

Litong, 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?

There exists a certain core drive that compels me to create. One is desire, and the other is fear.

People often say, “Be genuine.” I say, “Be desire.” I am talking about the same thing—something that cannot be separated from creative expression. Creating without desire often makes me feel numb. “Creating for the sake of creating” is a very lifeless state for me, and I don’t believe that creating without desire can show sincerity. If a creator doesn’t have the courage to show the audience who they are, how can they ignite the passion of others? Therefore, I often ask myself what I desire most at this moment—only then can I look into my own heart. It doesn’t have to be grandiose or aesthetic; even if with a shallow, primitive desire, it’s still better than a well-decorated empty shell.

And fear chases me; fear keeps me alive. It is often misunderstood. Fear is not a purely negative feeling, and fearlessness is not ignorance. What I see as fearlessness is the courage to stand firm despite knowing fear. However, instead of saying that it is courage that drives me to create, I have chosen the other. This is because fear, as a psychological mechanism that has protected humans for millions of years, has always been like a whetstone, sharpening our nerves, making them sharp, alert, reflective, and active at all times. I pay close attention to my fear instinct, letting it pull me to dig deeper into my emotions and sensations.

I’m sure many creators have had moments when they’ve been unable to visualize what’s in their mind, so they might as well not put pen to paper. The fear of creation arises because there is so much desire to create the perfect work. Desire and fear are often two sides of the same coin. This is not an entirely unhelpful affliction, and the process of facing fears and pursuing desires is an opportunity for inspiration. The important thing is to find the balance: explore your desires without being swayed by them; tap into your fears without being defeated by them. Together, they create a dynamic system that fosters impactful creativity.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’ve often said that I began my artistic career as an illustrator. Working as an illustrator over the years has prompted me to reflect on myself. For a long time, my illustration style was fixed in a rather limited aesthetic, following prevailing fashions. But as I broadened my horizons and learned about the work of many other illustrators, I began to question my so-called “style.” I looked at my own work and realized that the homogeneity of the images was losing its appeal to me. I wanted to explore creations that were more alive and closer to my inner self rather than just conforming to mainstream beauty.

So I “gave up” illustration. This does not mean that I stopped illustrating, but I briefly removed myself from a fixed professional position and tried to explore different possibilities with a fresh perspective. This led to the discovery of my love for motion graphics. The expressive language of motion graphics is very different from static illustration, and its rich audio-visual experience gave me the opportunity to integrate my own unique expressive approach.

I have a wide range of interests in the arts, including literature, music, and dance. My exploration of motion graphics led to a breakthrough in the creative inspiration I had accumulated over the years. I was able to combine my own words and sounds into my new works, which allowed me to finally create an expressive technique that I had not been able to achieve through illustration alone. All of this culminated in the film “Currency For the Long-gone World,” where, for the first time, I was able to express my thoughts and feelings in such a sincere way.

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?

In my opinion, as a creator, the three most important qualities are curiosity, inquisitiveness, and sincerity.

Curiosity is the most basic source of inspiration. It is essential for a creator to continuously seek new knowledge and insights, understand different works and fields, enhance the breadth, depth, and tenacity of cognition, and be inspired by inclusiveness and diverse perspectives. Inquisitiveness is not only a quality but also an ability—the ability to acquire and filter information, to delve deeper into areas of interest, and to organize information effectively, constructing a personal knowledge system that supports one’s creative content. Sincerity needs no introduction; it is a quality I have always valued greatly. This means not only being sincere with the audience but also being true to oneself. I have always believed that the best talent is passion, and creators need to embrace their own interests and develop their creations on this basis.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?

With extensive experience and knowledge of various styles, I can offer valuable artistic guidance if you are unsure about the art direction of your project. I specialize in blending unique music and writing styles to create animated films with distinctive worldviews and aesthetic characteristics. Additionally, if you need concept art or illustrations with a clear style, please feel free to contact me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://noey.cargo.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noeynuoyi/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/litong-zeng-b6370a275/
• Other: Email: litongzeng0502@gmail.com.