We were lucky to catch up with Xingrui Xu recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Xingrui, thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.
Creativity is a wonderful thing, and I think a lot of times it’s just a flash in the pan. I think most young artists don’t stick to the rules, at least I’m not. I am willing to accept new things, in fact, I especially like to chat with my nephew, and sometimes with some children who learn pottery from me, I think their minds are always jumping and flying. I think their minds are always jumping and flying. Chatting with them will open up many different points of view. And I think we need to see more exhibitions and read more books, creativity is a flash of inspiration, but also some accumulation, sometimes experience is also part of creativity, change the old knowledge into a new perspective into a new thing!
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 a professional artist based in Chicago and Shanghai, I graduated from School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an MFA in Ceramics. I specialize in contemporary practice, primarily in ceramics, painting, sculpture and land art.
I have had solo exhibitions at SITE Gallery in Chicago, Heritage museum of Asian Art in Chicago, and Walter + McBean Gallery in San Francisco. I think a big part of my involvement in the art industry is genetic, as my grandfather’s love of art was instilled in me as a child.
I think that as an artist, every moment of inspiration is special and there is always excitement in the creative process. I find the process of creating a work of art very exciting and I love the feeling of being able to bring something new to the viewer. I love working with clay for sculpture and painting because it is such an amazing and ancient material. Most people only remember ceramics for its usefulness, but they forget its beauty and malleability, a state of solidity and fragility.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
From the perspective of art, I believe that systematic training, persistence in self-pursuits, and physical and mental dedication are essential. As art practitioners, artists and curators need to accumulate a certain amount of expertise, which can only be mastered through systematic learning. The second point is the pursuit of self, which I think is also very important, not only to pursue self-expression, but also the most difficult thing is to persist. Many artists are short-lived, drowning in iterations because they don’t persevere. Total dedication is also very important, because I think the process of making art is very hard, to struggle with the materials and to infuse one’s own mental energy into the work. This process must be a test of physical strength and energy.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I would slow myself down and then try not to ruminate and slowly sort through my emotions. I’m actually quite vulnerable and obsessive at times, and I’m also particularly fond of making plans, which I think might be a kind of compulsion because I feel uncomfortable if things deviate from what I envisioned. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I’m making work, and when I encounter it in the early stages of my career I can get a bit flustered, but slowly I’m realizing that it’s a good opportunity for me to slow down and then sort things out. It’s not scary because it’s over there at the core of the creative process.
Contact Info:
- Website: xingruixu.com
Image Credits
Xingrui Xu Studio
