We recently connected with Ruichao Jiang and have shared our conversation below.
Ruichao, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
It’s not easy. In the first two years after graduating from graduate school, I worked in a gallery in New York. During this time, I gradually transitioned from a freelance gallery designer to a managerial role, which extended my working hours and left me with less time and energy for my own creative work. I used my after-work hours to create small pieces to alleviate the fatigue and anxiety of living in such a busy and socially demanding city. Living in a small apartment in New York meant these creations were not large in size, but they were filled with intuitive creativity. I believe that continuing to create is important. Even if your mind and energy don’t support intense, large-scale works, creating things that feel less stressful still helps maintain your creative ability and the sense of creation. Any form of creation is a reflection and record of your current state, and the act of “creating” itself is the most important, as it is fundamental to maintaining your creativity.
Another key aspect is actively engaging with new experiences and knowledge, including interacting with different people. You always need some external stimuli to spark your creativity—new information enters your brain, and then your brain processes it into new inspiration. I often browse scientific articles or attend related events, and I read articles and books that interest me. These activities always light up my inspiration at some point.
Finally, perhaps my secret lies in giving myself space to daydream and let my mind wander. No matter how busy work or life gets, I always allow myself moments to completely empty my mind and let my thoughts roam freely. These moments are where my inspiration comes from—creativity stems from here. Give your brain some free space, and it will bring you unexpected results.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in New York. My artistic practice encompasses speculative design, installation, fabric, illustration, and interactive art. I studied landscape architecture and gardening as an undergraduate and earned an MFA in graphic design from MICA. Science, technology, and nature always inspire me, and fiction is a crucial element in my creations.
My latest project is a sci-fi reproductive clinic called “New ART Clinic,” created in collaboration with curator Shuang Cai. This clinic offers two new assisted reproductive technologies: Male Pregnancy and Human Parthenogenesis. Male Pregnancy allows men to experience pregnancy, while Human Parthenogenesis enables women to have children with other women without involving men. I designed the entire clinic experience, including waiting areas, information boards, consultation desks, and even check-in forms. Through this environmental and experiential design, I aim to bring these fictional technologies to life, prompting people to seriously consider the potential future of such possibilities and further reflect on the division of labor and reproductive rights. This project also provides a new perspective on sex, gender, and reproduction. With sexual reproduction, humans are physiologically divided into males and females. What changes will occur in society and gender roles when humans possess advanced technology to alter the fundamental model of sexual reproduction?
I am also working on more projects related to technology, culture, and art, such as a dual external genitalia based on the analysis of female erotic novels, and mitochondrial DNA genealogy.
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?
It’s really hard to choose! I’ll talk about three qualities that I am striving to maintain and emphasize.
Sincerity: I believe it is crucial to be sincere in your creations. Sincerity is the foundation that makes your work impactful. Convey your feelings, experiences, and thoughts genuinely without fabricating anything to pander to others. This is something I firmly uphold and value.
Believe in Yourself: As a creator, you must first believe that what you are doing is worthwhile. Only then can you fearlessly put all your effort into creating and expressing yourself, allowing people to see what you are doing. People’s reactions can vary, but regardless, you must take that first step.
Open-mindedness: Listen to different perspectives with an open mind, understand others’ experiences and situations, and avoid making judgments or conclusions hastily. This is a principle I hold consistently.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
Over the past twelve months, I finally decided to shift my focus to personal creation and had my first show. This was a significant and stressful decision for me, as it meant I was finally beginning to stay true to my own ideas and try to follow them, which is a big improvement for me. Since high school, I have imagined myself becoming an “artist,” but this idea received no support in my small hometown in China. There was no information or examples to show me what it means to be an artist or how to become one. I was just fantasizing about a vague shadow. My mind was filled with ideas and stories, and I wished I could have an “identity” to express them and treat them as a legitimate endeavor. At that time, everything around me was telling me that such thoughts were wrong, that my ideas and reflections were unimportant, and that I should learn to abandon them and return to the mainstream path. Throughout my years of study and work, this notion haunted me, making me feel uneasy and guilty about pursuing what I truly wanted to do. However, during this time, I never gave up creating my own works in my spare time. I slowly moved towards the direction I longed for and received a lot of encouragement along the way. Today, I have finally decided to try to break this invisible shackle. Although I still face many challenges, such as funding, learning more theories and skills, and balancing my life, I have taken this step.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ruichao-jiang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rc.jiang/?hl=en
Image Credits
The first 3 installation view photos were taken by the photographer Shaoyu Zhang.
