We recently connected with Yi Yang and have shared our conversation below.

Yi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have worked on was a play I wrote and directed during my university years, called The Untold Melody. At the time, I was still an engineering student and had joined the drama club out of passion. Simultaneously, I was doing an internship at a construction site while pursuing my next engineering degree.

It was around 2017 when numerous news stories about sexual assault against women were surfacing. However, the internet environment in China was not supportive of such discussions. Many reports of sexual assault were censored or deleted. During my construction site internship, I was surrounded by workers who had not received the same level of education as I had. I witnessed a group of workers mocking and bullying a young female worker to the point where she broke down in tears. Hearing her cries reminded me of distant cries I had read about and experienced myself. It also brought back memories of the sexual harassment I had faced growing up. Statistics show that over 70% of women in China have experienced similar situations.

This inspired me to create a story set in a construction site, focusing on a woman who was assaulted and how everyone, including the victim, attempted to cover it up. These women’s stories and cries felt like the untold melody in the title — a song that was never heard. It raised the question: if something is never heard, does it hold meaning?

I worked tirelessly on this original full-length play, going through 11 drafts and countless sleepless nights. After six months, the play was finally brought to the stage and received great acclaim both on and off campus. This experience also led me to participate in other avant-garde feminist theater productions, further highlighting the struggles of women through creation and performance.

From a professional standpoint, this project solidified my determination to pursue a career in scriptwriting and creative storytelling. Instead of pursuing my next engineering degree, I pivoted to a graduate program in screenwriting to further deepen my craft.

Yi, 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 Yang Yi, and I’m a screenwriting student originally from Guangzhou, China, currently pursuing my graduate degree in screenwriting in New York while continuing to create and refine my work. My journey into storytelling began during my undergraduate years when I wrote and directed The Untold Melody, a play that explored the silence surrounding gender-based violence. This project not only received positive acclaim but also awakened a deep sense of purpose within me — to tell stories that give voice to the overlooked and unheard.

Over the years, I’ve found myself gravitating toward themes of women’s experiences, particularly the violence and systemic injustices they face. I’ve participated in avant-garde theater and forum theater projects addressing violence against women, where I’ve engaged with audiences and listened to stories of silenced survivors. These experiences have profoundly shaped my creative vision and commitment to crafting narratives that challenge perceptions and inspire empathy.

One of my recent works is an interactive installation art piece created in Hong Kong, using symbolic elements like pears and chicken blood to represent female genital mutilation. The project responded to a poster campaign about this issue that failed to resonate emotionally with male judges. By placing participants in the role of the “executioner,” the piece sought to evoke the visceral cruelty of the act, forcing viewers to confront the pain inflicted on victims.

In addition to experimental theater and art, my screenwriting continues to explore the complexities of women’s lives. I’ve performed as a woman experiencing harassment and stalking, and my current feature-length screenplay delves into the many forms of violence women face in professional and personal relationships.

What sets me apart as a creator is my commitment to tackling difficult, often uncomfortable, subjects through innovative storytelling techniques that invite the audience to engage both emotionally and intellectually. I believe stories have the power to shift perspectives, foster empathy, and inspire change.

For anyone interested in my work, I want them to know that my stories are born from a deep desire to confront societal issues and give voice to those who are often silenced. My goal is to create impactful narratives that resonate beyond the screen or stage and contribute to a larger conversation about justice, empathy, and change.

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

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative is that it allows me to explore and confront my own confusion about the world. I often feel unsettled by the overwhelming, one-sided narratives surrounding many social issues. Is it truly as it seems? Are we simply being told what’s right or wrong by authority figures? Through creation, I challenge these simplified answers, diving into the complexities behind these events and encouraging others to think more critically.

The process of creation also exposes my own vulnerabilities, particularly those rooted in my personal experiences with gender dynamics and trauma. When I write about the violence and struggles in relationships, I gain a clearer understanding of women’s inherent fragility and the societal forces that shape their decisions. Many of these answers point back to the perpetrators rather than the women themselves. However, through my work, I aim to balance these narratives, urging people to reflect on the deeper reasons behind these issues rather than assigning blame simplistically.

One of the most fulfilling moments comes when I see how different people react to my stories. I’ve noticed that audiences are drawn to different characters and moments, often feeling outrage, sadness, or empathy in ways I didn’t anticipate. This goes far beyond the typical goal of a creator who hopes their audience feels a specific emotion during a particular scene. For example, some of my artworks have evoked a visceral, even physical, reaction of discomfort or nausea, mirroring my own feelings during the creative process. When viewers empathize with the care and emotional labor I’ve put into a piece, it creates a unique connection between the creator and the audience that feels incredibly special.

Ultimately, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is witnessing how my work resonates with others. It takes on a life of its own, sparking emotions, discussions, and reflections that extend beyond what I could have ever predicted or controlled. This magic — the way stories and art can challenge, provoke, and move people — is what brings me the greatest joy and fulfillment as an artist.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

If I could go back to the start of my creative journey, I wish I had known more about the importance of understanding the foundational elements of art and storytelling. When I first began exploring art, I was often introduced to various “-isms” and abstract philosophies, which led me to view art through a metaphysical lens. I used vague and overarching concepts to interpret works, but I struggled to truly understand what made a piece of art meaningful or impactful.

The process of creation felt unnecessarily painful because I lacked clarity on the building blocks of a work — the tangible, visible elements that make up a piece. It wasn’t until I received formal education and guidance that I realized the importance of starting from what’s directly in front of you: the composition, structure, color, movement, and other discernible aspects. By first engaging with what is visible and straightforward, and then placing the work within its broader artistic or cultural context, I found that both understanding and creating art became much more intuitive and fulfilling.

This approach taught me that art can often be far simpler than we make it out to be. It’s about what’s laid bare before your eyes, not just abstract theories. By focusing on the core elements and then considering the larger context, I’ve come to appreciate and create work in a way that feels more grounded and meaningful. This shift in perspective has been one of the most valuable lessons in my creative journey.

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Image Credits

p1 Hany Osman
p2 Audrey X
p3 Xinran Gu/ Haoran Chen
p4 Jay Mackenzie
p5 Chaos Contempary Theatre
p6 Hana Gui
p7 p8 Sydney Coleman