We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ting Zhang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ting, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
The most meaningful project is my collage illustration, Let’s go Volcano trip. This project was inspired by a trip to a volcano in Hawaii. My friends and I went through three turns at night and finally overcame the collapsed road surface, the dark and long walk, and the weak light. Finally, we overcame these difficulties and saw the volcano. I felt the heat of life and understood that friendship made me more courageous to explore and not afraid of difficulties. I also understood the meaning of travel. Therefore, I created this collage work about volcanoes. This is a diverse community. Different people appreciate or explore and enjoy nature in different ways. We are all receiving the hot and warm enthusiasm and energy from the volcano.
Ting, 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?
When I was five years old, my uncle gave me a paper-cutting book which sparked my deep interest in handicrafts. Since then, I’ve been immersing myself in this wonderful world of creation. During my college years, I decided to study fashion design to further enhance my practical skills and creativity. What makes me most proud is that I never limit myself. With strong hands-on abilities and a passion for exploration, I boldly experiment with mixed materials. I sincerely hope that my potential customers or audiences can join me on this creative journey, learning various handicraft skills such as making fabric books, collages, fashion illustrations, DIY jewelry, clay installations, and more.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As a purveyor of creativity, I find the most gratifying aspect to be the facilitation of diversity within the realm of the spiritual consciousness. Endowed with an elevated degree of emotional acuity and empathetic insight, I endeavor to capture the essence of my existence through various artistic mediums, such as illustration and fashion design. By imbuing my works with the capacity to elicit resonance and healing, I aim to convey the profound beauty inherent in art, inspiring others to cultivate a wealth of intriguing concepts. In doing so, I encourage an atmosphere of proactive creation, stimulating each individual to contribute their unique perspectives to the tapestry of artistic endeavor.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Upon contemplating pursuing an advanced degree, which signified the commencement of yet another invaluable academic journey within the university setting, I elected not to persevere with fashion design. This decision does not imply a waning of my interest in the field; rather, it reflects my aspiration to acquire and delve deeply into an alternative proficiency that has consistently piqued my enthusiasm—illustration. The initial phase of embracing illustration proved to be quite challenging. I initially experimented with digital drawing, a medium ill-suited to my inclinations, having been accustomed to traditional media during my high school years. However, upon delving into the world of illustration, I observed that numerous illustrators on social media favored digital methods, leading me to believe it was an indispensable skill. Despite my resistance, I compelled myself to adapt to these incompatible tools and techniques, only to find my progress significantly hampered. Eventually, I abandoned this futile struggle and reverted to traditional media, a decision that streamlined my creative process. The tactile interaction with these materials and mediums allowed me a greater sense of freedom, enabling me to experiment more naturally. This relaxed approach inadvertently bestowed upon my artwork unforeseen elements of surprise. The shift from fashion design to illustration has also instilled in me a habit of contemplation before each artistic endeavor, as I strive to infuse my illustrations with my distinctive aesthetic sensibilities and fashion perspectives. I frequently reflect upon the message I aim to convey, believing that it is imperative to be audacious in crossing disciplinary boundaries, to courageously amalgamate diverse elements, to take risks, and to engage with my emotions, thereby allowing my work to encapsulate my unique emotional resonance and experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/tzhangart?igsh=Mnk1ZGU4a205NzZk&utm_source=qr
- Instagram: tzhangart
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/ting-zhang-0b5382220
Image Credits
All the images come from Ting Zhang’s illustration portfolio.
check on my instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/tzhangart?igsh=Mnk1ZGU4a205NzZk&utm_source=qr