We were lucky to catch up with Kang Ma recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kang, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I view my journey as a gradual process, one that has involved a fair amount of back and forth as I’ve changed my mind about what I want to pursue. As a child, I was inspired to dream of becoming a pop singer/musician after watching a Chinese animated series about high school bands. It was the first time I had ever dreamed of being an artist. I attempted to learn to sing and play multiple instruments, but I struggled to excel in those areas.

Later, in senior high school, I had the opportunity to study drawing and painting. Like many of my peers, my goal at the time was to be accepted into an art or design program at a university. However, I wasn’t exactly sure what that entailed. When I eventually got into college, I chose to major in Industrial Design. Regrettably, I found that I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped.

In my final year of college, I began the process of switching to graphic design, which turned out to be a better fit for me. With the guidance of a teacher, I started working in the field of graphic design and visual art. This experience has been crucial in helping me find my passion and purpose in the art world.

Kang, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kang Ma. I am a graphic designer, visual artist, and an inhabitant of planet Earth. My creative practice spans across a variety of media, including art books, typography, videos, web art, and image-making. However, my specialty lies in web-based interactive art. In terms of topic, I especially interested in the topic of “translation and lost in translation.” This topic encompasses both the translation between different languages and different media, and I enjoy exploring the potential of the errors that occur during the translation process. Two of my recent works, “Translate English Into English” and “Sharpness Being Worn Out By Ricoh MP3003”, are examples of my exploration in this area.

Recently, I created a proposal for a fictional app that hijacks people’s phones and controls how they use their camera and image-posting social media apps. For instance, the app would only allow users to take clear pictures of a location if they stayed there long enough. It would also restrict the use of image-posting social media apps before 8 pm and would only permit users to add location tags after they have stayed in that location for at least 24 hours. This app is unlikely to be developed, but it serves as a sarcastic reminder to people to be aware of how they use mobile technologies and how much they have been domesticated by them.

Last month, my work “How Did Steve Jobs Invent Ladders?” was featured in a group exhibition at :iidrr gallery in New York City. This month, I am excited to be participating in the Multiple Formats Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Book Fair as an exhibitor on March 18. Additionally, I will be sharing my practice as one of the panelists on the topic of “MISUSE, MAPPING & MYTHOLOGIES” on March 17.

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

As an artist, one of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the opportunity to meet and connect with a diverse range of people — whether they be friends, peers, audience members, or students. I find that each individual has something unique to offer and can inspire me in different ways.

Moreover, the critical and analytical perspective that I have developed through my artistic practice has been immensely rewarding. I find myself examining objects, phenomena, and forms in a new light, and questioning the reasons behind their appearance and existence. This habit of analyzing and evaluating the world around me has given me a new lens through which to view the world, allowing me to see things in a different and often enlightening way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My artistic practice is generally a reflection or reaction to the experiences or encounters that I have in my life. I am constantly examining and analyzing these experiences, seeking to integrate what I learn from them into the messages that I convey through my work. Ultimately, my goal is to communicate these messages to my audience, sharing with them the insights and perspectives that I have gained through my artistic exploration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://makang.world/
• Instagram: kang_ma_km
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kang-ma-8b5663157/