We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shiyan Chen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shiyan below.

Hi Shiyan, thanks for joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your career and how did you resolve those issues?

Being twenty in this world that constantly feels uncertain and fast-paced is quite challenging on its own, but trying to be a creator and artist is getting more and more testing because efficiency and profitable outcomes are deemed as more “valuable” compared to the human hand process and experience. When I applied for art school in high school, I always knew that making art and drawing were my backbone, a part of who I am, because I knew I was good at it. I appreciate my parents’ support and belief in me to pursue my passion and strengths, but only when I had to face the real world, especially during the first year of college, I was struck with the feeling of helplessness and I felt like I was not good enough to compete with other creatives so I can give back to my parents who invested in me.

I always thought of myself as a hopeful person, and my stubbornness would never take no for an answer, but when I first felt that what I thought I was good at may not support myself or make a change in the world, there seemed to be a bottomless hole in my chest. It’s that feeling that your spirit has sunk to the ground, and it took a while to push my spirit back up again. I don’t think I have resolved this challenge, or maybe ever will, because life is an ongoing problem-solving game, and like my parents would say, the day you stop taking on the challenges is the day that you no longer live.

The key is to show up for yourself every day, keep doing what you love, and don’t forget to make backup plans in case the passion does not work out. To share one of my favorite quotes by Antonio Gramsci: “Pessimism of the intellect and the optimism of the will.” Most importantly, it is imagining beautiful scenes inspired by my experiences and putting them down on paper. There is nothing in this world that can compare to the feeling of sitting at my desk and making my visions come to life, other than the people in my life who inspire me. I believe that before we are sent off into another world, what flashes before our eyes will not be the number in our bank accounts or the successful jobs we had, but it will be what we made of our lives and how we have impacted others.

Shiyan, 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?

I’m Shiyan, an illustrator and artist currently based in New York, attending the School of Visual Arts. I’m from Shanghai, and I have lived in Germany for around six years, attending an international school. Moving across three continents guided me to think globally, respect people from all walks of life and cultures, and learn to be adaptable in different environments. These experiences also forced me to come out of my shell as a girl who has always been naturally shy, and it surprises me whenever people tell me I’m confident and outgoing. To me, I don’t feel much different as a person because I keep going, one thing after another.

I currently work at the SVA Library as the Pictures and Periodicals Assistant, and I am an editor at the student-led SVA INK Magazine. I also interned at Yossi Milo Gallery in Chelsea this summer because I am interested in the fine art industry. Being able to balance academics, professional experiences, social life, and taking care of oneself can get pretty tough, and these are skills that are not taught in school. I think moving to an entirely new country on my own at eighteen further pushed me to do things that I never thought I would do, and truly, the world is my oyster. Opportunities are around people who are always prepared. I think art is an extension of life, and you can never run out of inspiration because life moves on. I take inspiration from what I see and feel, and I would describe my style as detail-oriented, critical, and inspiring. I think creating illustrations and experiences that touch hearts is of utmost importance in this world.

An exciting announcement is that my friend from freshman year, Selema de Bellis, and I will be having our duo exhibition, Observational Drawings, at the SVA Flatiron Gallery windows from September 5th to 27th. The opening reception will be on the 5th at 6:30PM. I can’t wait to see where my creative journey takes me!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think a lesson I had to unlearn is feeling restricted by rules or others’ expectations. I realized I should be making things happen when I worry too much. Being influenced by my parents’ rightfully realist world views, sometimes I make excuses for myself that I cannot do something because of my partially unprivileged background. However, I was lucky enough to meet professors, peers, and colleagues who encouraged me to take a chance at applying for more internships, even if they seemed out of reach, or go to networking events and talk to potential connections. The world gives opportunities to people who are motivated and actively ask for what they want. Sitting around, worrying, fearing rejection, and thinking that you are not good enough only gives you anxiety, which you should use as a catalyst for action. Now, when I worry, I take a minute to step away from that feeling and research what I can do right now, such as making a list of potential master’s programs I am interested in, applying for internships, and learn about the job market and artificial intelligence. Once I know the whole picture, although the uncertainty of the future cannot be eradicated, at least I have a grip on reality instead of my imagination of it, which often spins out of control.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Being a professional illustrator with an income that can support yourself, or when you have a family, takes time and can be a challenging career. I am not giving up on my creative path, but it is important to find another area of interest that can land you a more “regular” job while working as an artist. I am interested in galleries, auction houses, and museums because the first two are industries that help artists to advertise and sell their artworks, while museums are institutions that value the preservation and showcase of art. I want to learn about the business behind art and the system to archive valuable pieces of history and culture. This is also why I think taking many humanities classes and reading diverse literature in college and throughout life will help artists build a sophisticated and educated perspective of the arts and the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shiyanchen-portfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chenshiyan5470/?hl=en
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shiyan-chen-786923275/

Image Credits

Sana Kakumanu (all portrait photos of Shiyan Chen)