We recently connected with Wei-fang Chang and have shared our conversation below.

Wei-Fang, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

My artistic brain started to thrive while pursuing my master’s degree in Interactive Media for Performance at CalArts, within the School of Theater, in which I do video projection design for performance. It is a artistic, crazy, experimental, collaborated, vibrate and unique school that I can feel and learn so much by just open my eyes and sensations. Coming from a “design” background to an “art” environment, I had an hard time to define myself and felt chaotic in an art school, because I used to follow a rules to plan my design, as opposed to art process, in which it takes time or space to experience or improvise. Within the numerous art practice and hand-on theater and dance production as a video designer, I learn how to be open to people, to be honest to myself, be soft to environment, and be patient to art during process.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a video designer and multimedia artist who was raised and born in Taiwan, and am currently based in Los Angeles, though spiritually in the universe. I specialize in video projection design and interactive art particularly within live experiences.

As a video designer, I find my sparkles in live performance that creates the aura, which evolves uniquely in that time and space, through our sensations in a performance. I am intrigued by the unique of live performance which allows me to immerse in chaos, confusion, ecstasy, or fear, and gives me the other psycho-somatic space to detach from the external world. I am interested in challenging the liveness of video arts by extending it outside of the frame of the window screen onto a spatial dimension within performative environment.

The visual language in my works is inspired by the organic flow of nature transition and subtle perception of logically conflicting human behaviors and self-reflection. I retranslated these perceptions into digital geometric motion graphics, such as distorted linear patterns, rhythmic waves and atmospheric digital gradients, evoking the perpetual transitions of nature. Additionally, I also like to explore video as a mirror for a self-portrait and audience engagement using live camera in my installation and projection design. It is intriguing how the subjectivity of viewers can also become the objectivity of their experience, suddenly building a connection between the external and internal aspects of a monitor and the body of a user, thereby transforming audiences from passive viewers into active participants and integrating them as part of the video information.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I am proud of my capacity for sensitive perception. The range of feelings accessible is far broader than what human language can convey. I really appreciate the immense sensations my body can experience through art, especially in live experience. It is interesting that a human won’t be able to fully understand other human’s sensation. We can describe or try to understand a feeling by language, but there’s no way to feel exactly same as other’s sensation and perspective. Keep your eyes, emotions, and heart open. I recall a video designer whom I admire once said, “Eyes are the best learning tool, even when you are gazing upon a pile of trash.”

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Consistency has been key in building my audience on social media. As a video designer, my work is deeply integrated with the live performance environment—combining stage, lighting, sound, performers, and the presence of the audience—so it’s not something that can easily be captured on a flat screen. However, by focusing on the technical aspects of video creation and interactive programming, I’ve found motivation in consistently sharing my process and sketches on Instagram. Engaging in conversations with peers through these posts has been invaluable.

Regular practice not only refines my visual language but also heightens my sensitivity to art. In the field of interactive media, where the technical threshold is often high, maintaining consistent practice has been essential for developing and honing my skills.

Consistency in sharing your journey, no matter how small the steps, fosters a habit of creation and builds a meaningful connection with your audience. It also opens the door to engaging with a community of like-minded individuals who can offer insights and support.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wei-fang.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w._.mp4/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wei-fang-chang-1a2237190/

Image Credits

California Institute of the Arts