We’re looking forward to introducing you to Miu The Muse. Check out our conversation below.
Miu, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m walking on a path that’s been clear for me a loooooong time ago. Funny thing is that although I have a pretty clear idea of the destination, the light I hold only shines on the next few steps.
And sometimes… I get caught up in little side quests.
But on a reasonable timeline, I always find my way back to the main road.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is MIu the Muse and I am a multi-disciplinary fine artist, graphic novelist and interior designer.
If I could use a metaphor to talk about what I do, I would say that these three spheres of my life are like trees, but underneath it all there is a root system that’s interwoven… Everything stand tall as its own, but they all work together to help each other grow.
For example, I’m working on a graphic novel right now and one of the main theme that guides the world and story I’m creating are guided by principles from the solarpunk & lunarpunk movements. So everything is connected to regenerative ecosystems that thrive and that does that while including technology. On the other hand, I am fascinated by biophilic design and I always try to make space for nature when I think about designing a place.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I think it’s multiple moments of witnessing art and the behind-the-scenes of how the art is made. I’m thinking here especially about animation.
The old-school animation and anime were mostly drawn by hand and done in stop motion. There is such a beautiful dedication that comes from doing such a craft. Even the part where you’ve produced everything, you filmed everything, and then… you have to trim it. It’s a part of the process.
Let’s be real, it stings to cut a part of something you’ve worked so hard to create, especially when you feel that there’s equal value in that part as in the rest.
( I guess that’s why we have director’s cuts… but I digress.)
There’s a certain devotion in making something overflowingly creative fit into a specific time capsule we can return to and watch over and over again. Yet those decision leads to body of work that keeps leaving this beautiful effect and impact on us. It draws us back to it because the way the artwork was composed came from multiple moments of attention.
I must admit I’m really grateful for the Internet & accessible recording devices because if it wasn’t for that, the accessibility of understanding what’s happening behind the scene would be a lot more niche and limited. Like I would have to rely and depend on whatever the school curriculum had to offer — which, luckily, I had access to as a teenager.
One day, we went on a field trip to the National Film Board of Canada. There, we learned about stop motion and we even did voice covers and sound effects for a short film. It was cool, cause we had to work as a team and it was spontaneous. I didn’t even know we were going to do that!
We did a quick audition to see who was going to be the voice actor for which character. The special effects were made with everyday objects, which just showed me that creativity is abundant. And because we did it collectively, using everything that we had around us, it created a unique version of this stop motion piece. Technology definitely supported the creation process, but I don’t think it could ever recreate what we did in a way that experience in a way that feels so wholesome.
This was an experience I’m really grateful for. There are things in real life that can become integrated in us in a way the Internet cannot mimic. But when we’re in a space where we can’t learn from direct experience, it’s always nice to know that technology can still be there to support and share in our learning.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Though I am not fond of romanticizing suffering, I do think it’s important to honour the reality it brings into our lives. Suffering does make space for resilience. It also teaches us about what really matters to us. What we really want to fight and stand up for. Success then becomes the result of showing up despite suffering because you hold onto the vision of what you wish to see on the other side.
Success is a little bit like trust, we need to earn it. That’s what makes it tangible. And although these are concepts, they feel very real and palpable. If we dissect suffering into sub-categories; being annoyed, facing frustrations or being redirected in another direction, it can definitely feel like roadblocks. But inevitably it leads us somewhere. And success isn’t really obtained without effort. When we keep on being persistent, we can thrive. Which, in a way, puts agency in our hands to be co-creators of our destinies. We cannot control what happens to us, but we can decide what we’re going to do about it.
So suffering teaches me why I deserve to rest, celebrate my success, live passionately, love fiercely and to keep on being an active and engaged participant in what I wanna see flourish around me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Oh definitely my upcoming graphic novel! There is a title… and it’s a good one. But I’m letting it breathe a little longer before I make it official. The desire to create it started a loooong time ago & my lovely audience has been so patient with me on this one. I want it so badly that nothing can waver my dedication to this project. And basically everything I’ve been doing has been with the intent of gaining technique, wisdom, and knowledge about the creation of this graphic novel . I’ve always liked drawing stories, but I wanted to create something that deeply resonated with me. I wanted to create something that went beyond just a story people would read just to switch off their minds. In that sense, it’s more about connectivity.
So I had a seed, but I wasn’t sure what type of plant would grow from it. It was very challenging for me to spend multiple years holding so dearly onto this project. Mostly because there were many times when I felt frustrated by the burning desire to make it happen, while knowing the time just wasn’t ripe yet. So I had to keep living in that space between longing and patience. And it was an important part of the process because it helped me to connect with a better understanding of who I am at my core and what kind of vision I wanted to share.
For example, there was a time I didn’t know about intersectionality and now, not only I know what it is, but I understand why it’s important to be a part of my story. Plus, I only recently became an interior designer, and little did I know this would help me unlock a small fear that I never wanted to admit; I was scared of drawing spaces because I thought I couldn’t draw them as well as I draw characters. And now my story becomes more complete because I’m not just drawing characters floating on paper, they have spaces to land on.
So yeah, it was challenging to hold space for something I was so certain about in my heart, yet I didn’t know what its final form would look like. And I must admit it feels very gratifying to finally be able to gather all of my tools and put this project in motion. And I’m so grateful that I waited because now I’m working towards something that I know I will feel proud of once it reaches completion.
Compared to other artwork, it’s a journey I’m going to share with my audience on Instagram. Remember my plant analogy earlier? The one about the trees and the root system… Well, I am at the space where my roots are firmly grown. And I wanna share the journey from this sprout to a mature tree.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m able to live in alignment with my own cycles, while still making space for the rhythm of the world around me.
That means tuning into my body first, and using it as the compass for how I move through life creatively, socially, and energetically.
I really believe in giving back, in contributing to the collective and to nature, but I also believe in restoration. Rest is part of the rhythm. I don’t think I have to suffer to be valuable and I’m constantly unlearning the idea that production is more important than the people behind it.
As someone with a feminine body, my cycles don’t reset every 24 hours like the sun they move more like the moon, slow and layered. And I honour that. I still maintain a pace, but it’s one that includes intentional replenishment as part of the process.
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