Meet Xiaoyi Peng

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Xiaoyi Peng a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Xiaoyi, 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?

A while ago, like many others who tend to internalize and overthink, I fell into a spiral of existential crisis. We may easily answer the purpose of doing a particular thing, but then, what is the purpose of achieving that purpose? After questioning it a few times, purpose itself seems to dissolve, leaving only more questions about this absurd world. Between the present and our inevitable death, what exactly can we do to resist being eroded by this sense of meaninglessness? I try to distract myself from these thoughts. And so, I found myself drawn to certain things, like drawing and painting. When I’m engaged in making art, I don’t think about whether it’s meaningful. Creating gives me the illusion of escaping this absurd world. Perhaps life should be filled with things like this.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am Penny x1 (Xiaoyi), a visual artist from Beijing, China, currently based in Atlanta, GA. I graduated from the MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program and am working to establish my career as a freelance illustrator. I enjoy finding ways to capture the passage of time in still images and am particularly interested in illustrating small moments that reveal relationships between people and their interactions with their surroundings. My work has received recognition, including awards in the book and comic categories of the iJungle Illustration Award 2023, and has been showcased in my solo exhibition As in the Previous in Beijing. This winter, I will be exhibiting at the Seoul Illustration Fair V18. In addition to my work as an illustrator, I am a teaching artist with experience in designing and leading creative workshops. I welcome challenges and am passionate about making art accessible to the public!

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

In the context of visual art, I would say experimenting with different mediums, seeking inspiration from a wide range of sources, observing life with added passion and attention. An extra one would be to dig deeply into all subjects of interest. These tips can guide us in discovering our own creative methods. Many artists recommend keeping a sketchbook to draw anywhere, anytime. However, that doesn’t quite work for me. I find it more effective to jot down my thoughts in words, which I can then expand upon when I sit down at my desk. This experience has taught me the importance of finding a working process that feels most comfortable and effective for each of us.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

A recent book that inspired me deeply is Michio Hoshino’s The Traveler’s Tree. It’s a collection of essays and diary entries from his time living in Alaska. It’s outstandingly beautiful. Simple yet philosophical, it leads me to reflect on the simplest parts of my life. For instance, after finishing the chapter *Early Spring*, I wrote a short passage, referencing *Grizzly Man*, a documentary film by Werner Herzog:

The grizzly bear, whom Timothy considered his closest and most intimate friend, merely viewed him as a satisfying meal. The documentary left a lasting impression, and I often find myself recalling the bear’s terrifying visage—a mix of peculiar features. Even as we self-righteously believe Timothy was deluding himself by romanticizing his relationship with the grizzly, we must recognize that we, too, are engaging in one-sided speculation, with no alternative. The prison of our thoughts is our living space, yet it fortunately allows for infinite expansion, enabling us to experience the beautiful illusion of freedom.

Later, in the *Early Spring* chapter of *The Traveler’s Tree*, I joined Hoshino and his group in their search for a hibernating black bear. Immersed in the pure, wonderful landscape of Alaska, I felt the ever-present fear of bears lurking in the back of my mind. Yet perhaps the most striking beauty arises precisely from this balance—between awe for the land and a humbling respect for its dangers.

And this passage inspired me to start a project themed The Relationship Between Nature and Human Activities.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pennyx1.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by_penny_x1/