We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wenyi Zhang. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wenyi below.
Hi Wenyi, 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?
Born and raised in China during the transition between old and new technologies, the internet and screen-based visuals have impacted my life with unprecedented force. Constantly exploring and entertaining new digital tools has been a daily part of my growth. Alongside this inexhaustible enthusiasm for emerging technologies, there exists another part of me deeply devoted and fascinated by classical literature and media. I have always felt that classical entities such as Greek epics, Zhuangzi, and charcoal sketches possess an eternal and abstract quality that profoundly attracts me.
After undergoing education in architecture and design, I became familiar with working and expressing art based on data and sociology, using digital tools. I struggled to find a balance between functionality and abstract aesthetics. After a brief experience in a year-long fine art photography studies in 2019, I gradually delved into generative art and more three-dimensional visual tools. In the process of using these tools, especially node-based tools like Houdini and Unreal Engine, I found that the balance I had been seeking all along reached an ideal state. Between abstract code and its enchanting visual presentation, I saw the purity of classical poetry and geometry. The rapidly evolving world of technology, in its madness, continues to lead and change every aspect of the era and life.
As an individual in dynamic equilibrium, I will continue my journey as an engineer and artist, a sculptor of computational tools and algorithms, a digital worker who simultaneously creates the most practical efficiency tools and the purest visual poetry in code.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hello, I’m Wenyi Zhang, a New York-based Technical Artist and Creative Developer at the exciting intersection of game development and CG production. My journey began with a foundational education in Landscape Architecture at Renmin University of China, where I deeply explored typology, photogrammetry, and procedural modeling. This exploration paved the way for my current pursuit—a Master of Fine Arts in Computer Arts at the School of Visual Arts. Throughout this journey, my fascination has consistently revolved around leveraging computational tools to tackle artistic challenges, transforming obstacles into opportunities for innovation.
My professional experience, particularly as a VFX artist at the Harvard Chinese Media Art Lab, has enriched my understanding and application of real-time technology. There, I contributed to experiential heritage projects, which were as illuminating as they were fulfilling, allowing me to blend my passion for history with my technical skills. This opened up new realms for me, combining the philosophical depths of art with the crisp precision of technology.
What excites me most about my work is the constant state of ‘creative problem-solving’. Whether it’s developing procedural solutions in Houdini, enhancing productivity with Unreal Engine, or sketching out visual ideas in TouchDesigner using GLSL shaders—every day presents a new puzzle. My goal is to not just solve these puzzles but to do so in a way that adds artistic value, creating engaging experiences that resonate on a human level.
Recently, I’ve been focused on expanding my portfolio and exploring new tools that can further enhance interactivity in art and games. This expansion is not just in the digital realm; it extends to engaging with communities through workshops and collaborative projects that aim to demystify computer art and showcase its potential to both awe and inspire.
I am passionate about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, certainly in game development and CG production, but also in the broader field of digital art. Whether it’s through my professional endeavors, academic forays, or personal projects, I am always looking to elevate the standard, inspire others, and contribute innovatively to the artistic and technology communities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, three qualities that stand out as profoundly impactful are adaptability, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of learning. As a Technical Artist and Creative Developer, navigating the ever-evolving landscapes of game development and CG production has required a high degree of adaptability. Embracing new technologies and staying ahead of industry trends has been crucial to bringing innovative solutions to artistic challenges. My advice to those starting their journey is to cultivate adaptability, stay open to change, and actively seek opportunities to learn new tools and techniques.
Creativity is the heartbeat of my work. It’s not just about the final product but also about finding imaginative approaches to problem-solving. Fostering creativity involves thinking outside the box, pushing boundaries, and experimenting fearlessly. For those early in their journey, I encourage you to embrace your creative instincts, explore diverse perspectives, and never underestimate the power of original thinking.
Continuous learning has been a cornerstone of my growth. The dynamic nature of the fields I work in demands an insatiable appetite for knowledge. My advice to newcomers is to stay curious, seek out learning opportunities, and actively engage in collaborative projects. Surround yourself with a supportive community, be open to mentorship, and view every challenge as a chance to expand your skill set.
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 year, I have undertaken the exciting journey of becoming conversant with various 3D software APIs as a programming beginner. This elaborate exploration often involved spending numerous late nights immersed in detailed documentations to master their nuances and intricacies. While the initiation phase was unquestionably challenging due to the complexities of these APIs, the sense of satisfaction derived from overcoming these hurdles was immensely rewarding. Each sleepless night devoted to the comprehensiveness of these documentations noticeably propelled my growth and boosted my proficiency.
Through consistent and dedicated efforts, I’ve accomplished and even exceeded the milestones I initially outlined. Looking back, I find it deeply gratifying to acknowledge not only surpassing the initial challenging stage but also successfully journeying into the sphere of independently developing my own plugins. This measurable progress in achieving my phased learning objectives stands as a testament to my growth and improvement.
This journey has underscored the importance of resilience, patience, and undeterred persistence, especially when confronted with challenges. Sharing from my personal experience, I’d encourage budding learners to embrace the steep learning curve, to deem each night spent navigating documentation as a positive stride, and to savor the achievement of every goal and planned milestone. Armed with this outlook, you’ll soon find that even as a novice, the realm of independently creating plugins and accomplishing established objectives are within your reach.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wenyizhang.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orietur42/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wenyi-zhang-418550192/
- Other: https://github.com/wzhang1998
