Meet Ke Xu

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ke Xu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with KE below.

KE, 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?

I like to find inspiration from nature and daily life. Whether it’s the growth patterns of plants, or changes in light and shadow, it can trigger new ideas. I also keep an eye out for themes such as historical art, folk crafts, and mysticism, which can give my work a new direction. Moreover, I will experiment with different media, such as watercolor, ceramics, textiles or woodworking, and this cross-disciplinary exploration can inspire new ways of thinking. Experimenting with new materials and techniques not only makes the creative process more interesting, but also breaks the inertia of creativity and avoids stereotyped thinking.

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

I am an illustrator and handmade artist, my creations are centered around nature themes, depicting real or fantasy flora and fauna. I enjoy exploring a variety of mediums, including watercolor, ceramics, textiles, and woodworking, in hopes of expressing the unique scent of life through different materials, and allowing the viewer to feel a sense of presence that transcends the human perspective.
The most exciting part of the creative process for me is the exploration and discovery. Every time I create something I learn something new from the reference finding stage. I love to study historical art and traditional crafts, from ancient scroll paintings to folk crafts, and these elements are often incorporated into my works, giving them a sense of storytelling.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think it’s important to keep trying new things, being patient and practicing consistently. I don’t need to say much about patience and continuous practice. Artistic creation takes time to accumulate, and neither the improvement of technique nor the formation of style can be achieved overnight. It is also important to keep trying new things. When you get used to a way of creation, you will use inertia to create, and gradually lose the initial creative heart. So keep your curiosity and don’t be afraid to try new materials.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

One of the books that had a profound impact on me was Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, which tells the story of a young man’s journey in search of self and wisdom. The book is not only about Buddhist thought, but also a search for the meaning of life.
The biggest impact this book had on me was that it made me rethink the meaning of work. Previously, I viewed work simply as a means of earning money, and thought it was just a part of life that was not worth investing more emotionally. But after reading Siddhartha, there was a time when I didn’t even think that anything mattered – since life ultimately comes to nothing and we can’t take anything with us when we die, why be so obsessed? The meaning of life is not in arriving at a certain end point, but in the process of experiencing and feeling. This led to a shift in my attitude towards work – it’s not just a means to make money, but a way to experience the world, to know myself, and to create value. I started to look for jobs that allowed me to really engage and enjoy the process. Now, I am less obsessed with whether the “meaning” of my work is eternal, and more focused on the experience of the moment. If I can find joy in growing, creating, or impacting even one person in my work, then it’s already worthwhile, even if it will eventually dissipate.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ke_emade/

Image Credits

all the images are my work