We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hsiao-Wei Hsiang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hsiao-Wei, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Being a freelance artist means being in control of your own destiny, whether it’s managing your time or liaising with clients. The greatest advantage is being able to enjoy the quiet streets of SoHo, museums, and parks on a weekday afternoon. Conversely, the biggest downside of freelancing is the unstable income. You can never predict if you’ll have enough work next month to sustain your livelihood. I once considered that if I had a regular job, I would feel much more secure about my financial situation and wouldn’t be anxious or worried about my bank account balance. However, I believe that once you’ve experienced the schedule of a freelancer, it’s challenging for most people to revert to a nine-to-five job. Having previously worked in an office, freelancing, despite its lack of security, makes me happy because I can manage my own time and schedule. I guess there’s always a trade-off!

Hsiao-Wei, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi, I’m HsiaoWei Hsiang, a freelance model and content creator. My entry into this industry was quite serendipitous. Initially, I moved to the United States for my studies, but over the past couple of years, I met many friends in the fashion field. Encouraged by them, I started trying my hand at modeling and discovered my passion for this work. Before moving to the U.S., I had already begun learning video editing and mobile photography composition. Over the past two years, I’ve gradually explored my style and passions, embarking on my journey as a content creator. I’ve worked with clothing and accessory brands in the past, helping to create content centered around myself.

My goal has always been to showcase my diversity. I don’t set too many limits for myself now or in the future, as I want to explore and try different styles and fields. I hope that more people from various domains will discover me and that I’ll have the opportunity to collaborate on unique and groundbreaking projects!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

In society, things are not simply black and white; most of the time, we navigate through shades of gray. In the past, I believed there were only two possibilities: right and wrong. I thought that as long as I was sure I was right, I could stand my ground. However, after several years of freelancing, I realized this wasn’t the case. My perspective has shifted to understanding that there are multiple facets and possibilities to any situation, and we cannot make definitive judgments about right and wrong.

For example, consider my past experience with a work friend. She has a more extroverted personality and quickly connects with new friends using dark or risqué humor. In my view, this approach is somewhat disrespectful. Consequently, compared to her, I tend to give others the impression that I have clear boundaries. But as mentioned earlier, even though our methods puzzled and disagreed with each other, we couldn’t definitively say which side was right or wrong. This small story illustrates that many aspects of life and interpersonal relationships can’t be easily categorized, and I believe it can help others reflect on similar situations in their own lives.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Whether as a model or a content creator, the most rewarding aspect of these visually-oriented jobs is “being appreciated.” Sometimes, we want to convey a story or emotion through body language and visuals, but everyone has different aesthetic preferences, so not everyone can grasp your ideas. Therefore, whether it’s my own work or content created in collaboration with brands, receiving approval from the majority or the client makes me happy. It’s not just because my content is liked, but because it feels like finding kindred spirits, like finding people who truly understand you. Perhaps, compared to true artists, my creations always have a commercial aspect, making them more appreciated and loved by a wider audience, which brings me great joy!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hopp.bio/hsiaowei-hsiang
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsiaowei.hsiang/

Image Credits

Photographer: BoChun Cheng, Evelyn Freja, Ivan Morales
Brand/Designer: Jessica Abbey, Jen Liu