We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chiung Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Chiung, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The Awakening of Insects is my latest and most meaningful project. It is a 2D animated short film presenting three funny scenes from insect life when spring is coming. Cute and silly characters wake up from their winter sleep and celebrate the awakening uniquely. Its lighthearted portrayal also encourages viewers to live life to the fullest and expect the next beautiful moment to come.
The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. 24 solar terms is a unique and poetic way Chinese people depict seasonal change. Awakening of Insects is the third solar term in the lunar year and usually begins around March 5 and ends around March 20. During this time, temperatures start to rise, and there is a noticeable increase in rainfall.
Awakening of Insects is a lovely word in Chinese. It means animals are roused from their winter slumber by the spring thunder as the earth rejuvenates and springs back to life. It represents the reviving of life. During the pandemic, I came up with using a playful way to present this solar term to people who may not be familiar with it. I hoped my short comedy could comfort people’s anxiety and make people laugh and feel happy. I hope our world can revive from the pandemic.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
When I was a college student, my major was Industrial Design. During that time, I learned multiple design skill sets. After graduation, I worked as a Graphics Designer for over five years. Then I decided to move to the US to learn motion graphics design. Now I am a New York-based motion graphics designer and illustrator who loves to make funny and colorful works.
Combining traditional printing techniques with my digital artwork is a crucial aspect of my creation process. I experiment with risograph printing textures in my animations. The random grainy noise effect and the imprecise registration add a spontaneous and unplanned charm to my work, which creates unexpected and delightful visual experiences for my audience.
With curious eyes, I am inspired by the world around me, from moments of my daily life to the natural beauty of the outdoors. In my work, bugs, mice, and even tomatoes can be my characters. I give them personalities and put them in humorous situations. Whether it is an animation, an illustration, or a comic, my work brings a giggle to people and encourages them to view the world in a lighthearted and silly way.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is expressing my life in a playful way. I love finding humorous scenes from daily life and including them in my artwork, such as drawing an illustration about a cute character swiping his phone in a stinky bathroom representing my partner’s morning routine. And If my work can resonate with others, that is a massive bonus. Since I started to sell my work at some art book fairs. Many people told me my work touches their lives. I appreciated them so much.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
As a visual artist, I make art that brings joy and laughter to people’s lives. I believe humor is so necessary in this world. Art is my tool to convey my humor and optimism. I develop my style using a psychedelic color palette, loose shapes, dynamic motions, and simple stories. It embodies a playful and cheerful spirit. I hope people can forget their troubles for a while when they see my work.
Contact Info:
- Website: xiaoqiongzhang.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiung.zhang/