We were lucky to catch up with Danzhu Hu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Danzhu, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

At the very beginning of my creative journey, I discovered my keen interest in mental health advocacy, which has become a regular topic for my projects. In return, creating these projects has become a healing practice for me. And my MFA (master of fine arts) thesis project Farewell was the most meaningful project I’ve worked on. Farewell was my attempt to reimagine some of my most difficult moments battling with mental health issues through the lens of empathy and love. It consists of a series of personal stories about how, in this alternative world, I was able to find peace while dealing with severe self-hatred toward my body. It is also about letting go of the traumas I used to bear and recalling self-love in moments of despair.

Through Farewell, I embarked on a journey where I revisited myself battling different mental issues and their complications, including eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorders, depression, dermatillomania, and neurodermatitis, a skin condition characterized by chronic itching or scaling that can be triggered by extreme stress and anxiety. But this time I tried to recreate these scenarios where I could replace self-loathing with empathy and self-love, the love I acquired from my late grandmother and those who loved me dearly.

And to unveil these private yet complex moments, I constructed my work on a three-dimensional and multi-layered surface mounted with watercolor paper. In these layers lies the most vulnerable part of me, which was once hidden deep and is now open to the public. For me, Farewell is an ode saying goodbye to what once weighed me down and haunted me daily without grudges but best wishes. And through the watercolor marks and colored pencil lines, I also hope Farewell can offer comfort and support to those struggling with the same disorders and make them feel less lonely.

Danzhu, 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, my name is Danzhu Hu, I’m an award-winning visual storyteller, currently specializing in illustration and fine art painting. Inspired by nature’s motifs, Art Nouveau ornaments, and cinematography, my work often feels whimsically melancholic with a touch of surrealism. My work has been recognized by major awards like 3×3 Magazine, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Creative Quarterly, and more. And my work has also been showcased in many art galleries and art fairs in different countries.

My creative journey as a visual storyteller started early. Growing up in a small town in southern China, I was the introverted kid who doodled in her spare time. However, with the lack of educational resources and access to the art world, I saw little possibility of making a living with only my passion for art and my amateur drawing skills. However, after the detours I took in searching for the right career path, I found myself reunited with my childhood passion and chose to pursue it this time. After being accepted to the Illustration MFA program at the Fashion Institute of Technology, I was professionally trained to become an illustrator, and that’s when I got into the industry.

For people outside of the creative industry, it could be complicated trying to explain what visual storytelling is. I was once taught in my grad school that illustration is all about problem-solving, and I think that’s a perfect summarization. So, for my job, it could be editorial illustration, where I compound an article of words into enticing imagery, attracting the reader’s attention by presenting them with a vision of the text. It could also be for branding and advertising purposes where I’d solidify a cryptic feeling into a concrete visual system. And it’s a very exciting and singular process, for I see this problem-solving practice as translation. Through various media and forms, I need to dissect the obscure, abstract, and complicated into digestible elements and rearrange them into a story, one the audience can connect with both logically and emotionally. In my opinion, the key to a successful translation is what I call the “art of experiencing,” where I’d imagine myself as the protagonist of the story and immerse myself in the character’s circumstances. And the innermost part of this practice is emotional identification, a process of understanding the character’s inner motivation and identifying with their emotions. After that, I will search for the emotional anchor I resonate with strongly and retell the story in a visual form. And because of this practice, my work often feels emotionally charged and intimate, especially when dealing with complex topics.

Because of the interactive nature of the translation process, I got to experience and live different lives as different projects came up, which is exhilaratingly fulfilling. In return, I find my passion for visual storytelling growing constantly. And his healthy work cycle ensured my diligent work ethic, which I’m extremely proud of. I also take pride in my attention to detail and ability to handle complex topics. In addition, I found it immensely fulfilling and rewarding to be able to support what I believe in and care about through my practice, from women’s rights to mental health advocacy.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Although I found my focus throughout my creative journey ever-changing, I started to see my mission clearer. One of them is to translate the intangible into tangible, the achromatic into kaleidoscopic, and to find beauty in the mundane life. Another is simply about having fun and being playful in creating, whether through experimenting with different media or trying new technologies. And every day I look forward to new chapters in my joinery, and keep a tender curiosity about what’s yet to unfold.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is to support what I believe in and care about through my practice, like gender equality, women’s rights, and mental health advocacy. And to see people connecting with my work and relating to my ideas truly makes my journey meaningful and fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danzhuhu.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danzhu.hu/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danzhu-hu-74370594/