Meet Mengyuan Xue

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mengyuan Xue. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mengyuan, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever head any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

During the two years that I cared for my father, who was battling the rare disease of heart cancer, I found solace in writing bits and pieces of a novel centered around a heroine coping with the pain of gradually losing her father. I found the task challenging because my published novels have focused more on the spectacle genre rather than realism. Though I had never ventured into biographical writing before, the process proved to be cathartic and helped me navigate through the difficult journey of his illness.

As expected, the draft did not come together as I had hoped. Desiring to find a way to make sense of my experience, I set aside the manuscript and embarked on a new creative endeavor. I began an illustration series that depicted where I imagined my father’s consciousness went during his coma before his passing. Unlike the realistic approach of my unfinished novel, the art pieces showcased a fantastical journey in which my father traveled through other-worldly landscapes, ultimately reaching a celestial realm where he could look down upon earth.

Taking my time to create each illustration, I completed about one piece per year. This year, I decided to submit the series to the 3×3 professional illustration competition, and to my surprise, I was honored with a Merit Award. The recognition not only provided me with a sense of closure to my grief but also brought me comfort in knowing that my father would have been proud of my creative achievement.

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

A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a Japanese translation of an illustrated book by Yves Saint Laurent at the Kyoto Tsutaya bookstore. While I’ve never purchased any fashion items by YSL, he has quickly become one of my favorite illustrated book authors. I found immense enjoyment in the book, and it also reinforced the idea that pursuing multiple interests is not only acceptable but can also be beneficial. By not being bound by the rules and expectations of children’s illustration book, YSL was able to create something refreshingly unique and edgy, something hard to come across. It appears that sometimes being too professional could hurt one’s creativity.

During my time in graduate school, a professor once asked me was the one thing that I would like to pursue. Years later, I still struggle to provide a definitive answer. I have published several books, primarily as a writer, with one exception where I also served as an illustrator. Additionally, I have produced live-action short films that have been shown at film festivals internationally. This October, a short animation that I wrote, directed, and art-directed for the game AFK Arena is set to be released. I am now contemplating delving into the creation of a graphic novel or an independent game in the future.

While it may appear that I am juggling numerous pursuits simultaneously, in reality, all the projects I’m working on are one and the same thing, which is self-expression. The medium in which these manifestations take shape is of little importance to me. At times, my diverse resume can be intimidating, causing me to question my scattered focus. However, I find solace in the story of YSL, or even of Da Vinci, a master renowned for his versatility and refusal to confine himself to a single discipline. In some sense, devoting myself to self-expression and nothing else makes me more focused than many people who appears to be having one single job title.

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?

Patience: Book or film/animation projects take forever to complete. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly measuring our productivity. However, when I look at the career trajectory of artists I admire, I realize that progress is best measured over a longer period, such as a decade. It’s important to remember that creative work takes time and requires mental space. So, there’s no need to be hard on yourself if you haven’t finished a project in a while. To cultivate patience, it’s helpful to find joy in the process itself and celebrate each step of the journey as an achievement.

Self-care: Taking care of oneself involves not only physical and mental well-being but also nurturing one’s creativity. It’s essential to set daily limits on the time spent on tasks that require intense creative energy, such as writing. Research has shown that financial rewards can actually hinder performance on creative tasks. Therefore, I prioritize projects that I am passionate about over those that offer the highest pay. To learn the craft of self-care, podcasts and books on such topics could be a good starting point.

Language: I have a deep passion for languages, whether visual, written, or auditory. Language serves as the cornerstone of creative endeavors, and I believe in diving into using a language rather than focusing solely on grammar and vocabulary. For instance, I learned Japanese by immersing myself in Japanese shows and books instead of taking classes. The same approach applies to the language of illustration or film. By engaging with the language directly, the grammar and rules naturally become ingrained over time.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am currently working on an independent game in my free time that aims to replicate healing sensory details like soft fabric or misty windows on phone screens. I am seeking a programmer to collaborate with or provide feedback on my designs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.behance.net/mengyuan
• Instagram: mengyuan.xue
• Twitter: xuemengyuan

Image Credits

Lu Lv