Meet Yue Hua

We recently connected with Yue Hua and have shared our conversation below.

Yue, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

Keeping my creativity alive has always been a dynamic challenge, one that involves managing my time and energy to ensure I stay engaged and inspired. I believe creativity starts with a healthy body and mind. A consistent sleep routine, balanced diet, and regular exercise help me stay energized and focused, so I can fully engage in my creative work. I draw a lot of inspiration and motivation from my creative community. During my college years, my professors and classmates provided invaluable feedback and support, and since graduating, I’ve actively sought out communities of artists. Regular feedback sessions and work-in-progress deadlines within these groups keep me accountable and push me to grow. I make it a point to learn something new whenever possible, whether it’s a technique or simply exploring different creative perspectives. This keeps my mind sharp and reminds me of the endless possibilities in my practice. It’s about breaking out of self-imposed boundaries, challenging myself, and finding joy and confidence in the process. Most recently, I have been trying to learn live animation and generative sound, it’s been a rewarding experience.

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

I am a filmmaker and interdisciplinary artist from China, working with film, expanded cinema, and digital media to explore themes of cross-cultural identity (Chinese-American), language, and the female experience from a personal perspective. Currently, I am an affiliated faculty member at Emerson College, where I teach Introduction to Film Production and Production Design. My work has been exhibited internationally.

Recently, I’ve started a new project examining the underrepresentation of women in the art world, while also focusing on distributing and exhibiting Blue Bird, my MFA thesis projection performance.

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?

1. I’m never shy about expressing my intentions. I often double-check myself, but when the chance arises to present or share my work, I seize it confidently and wholeheartedly.

2. I embrace experimentation, always exploring new approaches in my work. This openness brings fresh possibilities and joy into the creative process, which has become a core motivation for me.

3. I understand the value of self-learning and see mistakes and setbacks as natural parts of the journey. There are low points, even moments of discouragement, but I allow myself to experience them and learn from them. What truly helps is accepting myself, being kind to myself, embracing imperfection, and appreciating each experience that shapes me.

I believe that being an artist is like walking a road less traveled. It’s like walking in the darkness without a map, and the next step is often unknown. But by consistently creating, expressing, and building your own art system, we carve a road for ourselves, with our art leading the way forward. This is the belief that keeps me going. It’s a lifelong journey, and my advice is to take it one step at a time, savoring each experience along the way, with no need to rush.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I am currently teaching three courses across three different colleges while simultaneously developing my career as an artist. My daily routine revolves around meeting with students, grading, and preparing for classes. Balancing time management and carving out moments to create, write, and reflect has been challenging. My strategy is to rest when needed and maintain a calendar with dedicated time slots for personal projects. Allowing myself breaks when my focus wanes has also been beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yuehua.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuehua_yvette/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yue-yvette-hua-173714221/

Image Credits

Tomás Orrego, Hanying Du, Yanghuixiao Gao, Asma Nobari Khoshmehr