Today we’d like to introduce you to Anya Zhang.
Hi Anya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Anya Zhang. I am a non-binary artist based in the tri-state area. My artistry includes performance, modeling, visual arts, and literacy. In all, I love all kinds of art, and I want to explore every possibility. I mainly work as an actor, both on stage and on camera. I’m also endevor to create my own projects by writing original scripts, design for my own project, and eventually to perform for my project. When it comes to my work, I would like to participate in every stage possible to maintain its originality, and to show the world my vision. I like to creat, and I like the spotlight. In this year, I would like to be more actively participate in the art world, and I would like to make become more professional in the industry.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Choosing an artistic career has always been my dream. I have loved art of all kinds ever since I was young, but I am also aware of how harsh the modern world is towards artists. I was not able to follow my heart until I’ve reached a quite mature age, when the voice of wanting to become an artist has become too loud that I simply cannot ignore. It pains me to say that I am still not financially independent. And because I started late, I still don’t know a lot of the rules of the art industry, and I am still stumbling through the dark to find a way around the world as an artist. Had it occurred to me that I should’ve stayed within the “normal path of the normal people”? Yes, all the time. Would it be easier that way? Maybe, and maybe it will be more stable. But then again I know what I want and I know I will always want it. It seems like I will always choose the harder way, but at the end of the day, I know I will survive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I call myself a creator, that is I create things, whether it’s visual, performance, or literacy. My main focus is acting, but on top of that, I also write my own plays, scripts, and perform for them. I have recently participated in a short play festival, where I get to perform a short play I wrote called “Hair”. It’s a discussion of a daughter and her father about her view on marriage and intimate relationships, and it’s very East Asian. I have designed my own poster, directed and performed as the daughter. This year I am working on 3 full-length plays, focusing on work, art and love. All of them are inspired by my own experiences and thoughts. I have finished one, and two more in progress, and I can’t wait to show them to the world!
What matters most to you?
I think my freedom is the most important thing for me. Freedom means dignity, and only with dignity, one can call themselves to be alive. I was born a people pleaser, and it has made me to consider other people’s wishes and requirements before my own, so I know from a very young age I want a room of my own, a small place where I can be myself and don’t have to compromise for anyone else. Just like what Virginia Woolf has proposed in her essay “A Room of One’s Own”, I believe liberty and solitude are crucial for creation. As an introvert, I need my own space to maintain a healthy self and to be able to create. I cherish my freedom more than anything else. Being with myself makes me prosper.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
26stphotography, Edwin Chavez, Grace Wang