We recently connected with Ray Chang and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ray , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I think it’s a work-in-progress, and maybe it will always be a work-in-progress, but I use it to my benefit. Whenever I feel like I’m not reaching my potential or not feeling so great about myself, I try to take a step back, breathe, and be honest with myself. I think it’s becoming more acceptable to realize not everyone is built the same way and that it’s okay to admit you’re not feeling so confident about a part of you, but maybe I have value in other parts of myself that are worth identifying. One example is that I don’t excel in social gatherings or conversation, which can sometimes be damning when trying to be part of an arts community. However, I found that there is value in being attentive to what others have to say and forming more thoughtful reflections. With the benefit of technology, I find it much more accessible to follow up or communicate through digital outlets later after said reflection, and that can sometimes lead to building more meaningful connections. It’s a form of problem-solving for me that doesn’t force me to fit in with social norms that often lead to anxiety and low self-esteem.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist with works of expanded cinema in various forms, including animation, sculpture, mechanical design, lighting, sound, and installation. From film cameras to old wind-up robots, my process comes from both technical and aesthetic perspectives, dissecting mechanisms and animation principles to produce works of alternative cinema to interrogate the contemporary cinema experience. I embrace the synergies between methodological and historical vectors in my practice to theorize the reception of this relationship in a physical, psychological, and social way.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Being willing to experiment, self-motivated, and have the ability to reflect or re-examine past experiences.
I think it’s pretty basic, but finding value with failure is good advice. Not to be confused with being okay with failing, learning nothing from it, and hoping results will be different based on pure dumb luck. I think we should all make informed decisions and take risks. Use your support system, ask for help, and trust your instincts.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I like meeting all types of artists in all types of disciplines. Musicians, designers, painters, performers, etc. In fact, I find it more interesting to meet people who do way different work; the only thing that matters to me is if they are passionate about what they do and are willing to be in mutual conversation to see if there is perhaps something interesting that can come out of this dialogue. I enjoy learning about the process and hearing stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: rayfchang.com
- Instagram: rayfchang
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-chang-b764a4112/
Image Credits
All image credits are to Ray Chang
