An Inspired Chat with Hao Zheng of San Francisco

Hao Zheng shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Hao, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Outside of work, I like to explore places in the city that I have never been to and take photos for reference in future works. Through this exploration, I discovered that there are shopping malls and plazas in the city that are kind of out of the way. And I hang out there a lot to feel the quiet atmosphere. When we mention places like shopping malls and plazas, we usually think those are busy places. However, some malls and plazas are surprisingly quiet. I like the sudden contrast of these places, which often brought me inspiration.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Hao Zheng, an illustrator. I am an illustration major who graduated from the Academy of Art University. I enjoy reading mythology from different cultures. The way that the ancients saw the world and deified concepts amazed me, and have been one of the sources of inspiration for my work. I also enjoy reading urban legends. I believe urban legends are a very clever way to fit fantasy beings into our concrete jungle. I create fantasy illustrations. And I am currently working on my illustration series Night-walking, which is about a young pigman wandering around in the city at night, and encounters different kinds of mysterious beings.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Quiet, unrealistic, and tolerant is what I would describe myself as from the very beginning. And it seems I have been quite a stubborn person, as I did not change much.

During my growth process, I have been requested to be more outgoing and talkative. However, I find that I am more like a listener. I am better at hearing what people say. And I can tolerate and understand different opinions. Being quiet does make my life harder. And that is the reason that I started trying to think more of myself and learn how to share my thoughts.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
That would be childhood. Sometimes I just miss the moment when I was a kid, my siblings and I playing in the living room before we went to bed, and the television was playing an old TV show. At that time, I felt happiness and I didn’t need to worry about anything.
I also miss the moment when I hung out with my big family as a kid, we’d get together every couple of years to honour our ancestors. We visited a very old house of our distant relative.
And the memory I cherish the most is the time my friends and I played in our elementary school. We often play characters from fairy tales, novels, and TV shows. It is also one of my inspirations for my artwork.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
That would be continuing to create artwork that I enjoy doing. This is not about making a living or earning a reputation. Artwork is an important way for me to express my thoughts and feelings. And I’ll always be working and creating my story. Through my artwork, I have a chance to connect with the people who share the same feeling.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
When I laid down my name, role, and possessions, I believe there would be a very pure of me, because the feeling is like I’m becoming a hermit or a wanderer. The only thing that defines me is what I do, which is continuing to create stories and use stories to amuse or heal people.

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