We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Norino Shi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Norino, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Asians, females and confusion about the universe and life and death are recurring themes, or to say, purposes in my work. The first two come from my identity – as an Asian female working in a foreign country, I often feel deeply that this group is almost invisible in key discourses, but at the same time is often pushed to the front lines of various issues and become a victim – such as yellow fever, or being on the forefront of political issues only to be forgotten or erased later. The latter two come from the nature of humanity and the universe; we are so insignificant compared to the observable universe within our current perception that this “insignificant existence” itself can cause anxiety about whether it makes sense to do anything at all. For me, my East Asian upbringing was devoid of education about life and death, and this absence has left me as an adult still unsettled, and I can only try to alleviate it by asking myself questions in my artworks.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I describe myself as a digital artist and illustrator. I came to New York from China 9 years ago, received my BFA and MFA both in art direction, and started my career as an illustrator from here. I have produced illustration commissions for a number of personal and commercial clients, and have showcased my works in multiple galleries across the world. My works mainly focus on female, Asians immigrants, and uncertainty about the universe & life and death, with various materials from digital illustrations, experimental short films to installation sculptures to weave all these. I consider myself as a Global Citizen, so my works also include a considerable number of fantasy-style works, mainly landscapes, with a view to creating a free spiritual world by stepping out of the shackles of space and time at present. Currently, I work as a freelance illustrator and program coordinator for an independent female publishing agency and book store.
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?
Creative work requires a certain level of flexibility and creativity, and the process is often uncertain and challenging. Unlike other professions, creative work requires us to continually create, innovate and push the envelope, which requires us to constantly challenge ourselves and our existing ideas and accept the possibility of failure and retrying.
Another aspect that may be difficult for non-creative people to understand is that creative work requires a certain level of mental toughness. Our work is often based on personal ideas and experiences, and it is often subject to outside criticism and commentary. These comments can sometimes be positive and sometimes negative. Creatives need to learn how to handle these comments and accept the positive side while maintaining their creativity and independent thinking skills. In today’s world where social media floods our lives, we often feel stressed and uncomfortable. We may feel envious or lost about other people’s social media posts, or worry about whether our social media presence is good enough. These feelings can negatively affect our emotions and self-esteem. In these situations, it is often more beneficial to sometimes step back or temporarily not accept these sources of stress and anxiety, rather than forcing ourselves to confront them.
Finally, creative work requires continuous learning and self-improvement. Technology and trends are constantly changing, and we need to keep up with the times, constantly learning and exploring new tools and techniques to keep us creative and competitive.
For artists just starting out in their own careers, I would say try to keep a good mindset. This is a serious piece of advice – when you feel that the pain of your creations has affected your life, stop and seek professional help. Along the way, your state will be perpetually torn between blind arrogance and self-loathing. There will be times when you feel that what you have created something so beautiful that it becomes unbearable that no one appreciates it. And in fact, when you’ll look at it 2 years later, you’ll wonder why you thought so highly of the piece at the time. At the same time, you’ll probably see a lot of bad artists dominating your social media feeds, while good artists are struggling in obscurity to make ends meet. All of this is normal; this industry has never been one where hard work pays off. It’s a chaotic, opportunity-requiring, miracle-requiring industry. And if you can SURVIVE these – welcome to the world of art.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, I am always looking for partners to work with. As an illustrator, I have the ability and confidence to deliver beautiful work within a time frame that can benefit both the client and me. But beyond that, I’d like to work with people I’m interested in working with – independent authors, researchers on female topics, immigrant and Asian human rights or welfare groups, sexual minorities, Chinatown nonprofits, indie bands or filmmakers, etc. By working with these “outside the mainstream” groups, I hope to raise awareness of the marginalized cultural organizations in our society. In my opinion, artists have a responsibility to explore social issues through their work – through images, through means that are not limited by language or time. These are the partners I would like to find and work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jshiart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Norino_Shi_/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/norino_art
Image Credits
Float Design for AAPI Cultural Heritage Parade Credits: Chinese Painting: Chunhua Li Calligraphy: Zhenxing Li
