Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yingshuet Lam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Yingshuet, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I developed my interest in art at an early age, often doodling on the walls of my parents’ and grandparents’ homes. Surprisingly, no one ever discouraged me from pursuing this creative outlet. During elementary school, I formed a close connection with my art teacher, who introduced me to the world of Chinese ink paintings. My passion extended beyond fine art to design, leading me to create comic books on A4 paper. I would eagerly ask my dad to print copies for me and distribute them to my friends. Additionally, I crafted games in my notebooks, providing entertainment for my friends and classmates. From that point onward, I harbored a strong determination to become a comic artist. While I held interests in various fields, art consistently remained my preferred and most cherished pursuit.

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

My name is Celine Lam, or Yingshuet Lam (林映雪). I was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Mainland, China. I am a mixed-media artist working and living in Brooklyn. I studied painting at the Rhode Island School of Design as my undergraduate.

My practice explores the relationship between physiological and psychological suppression. Physical confinement and angst often result from historical and systematic oppression, causing immobility through censorship and unsolicited force. My art serves as an apparatus for creating critical conversations, disturbing consciences, and documenting emotions. My experience with cultural and political differences informed my artistic vocabulary in my upbringing. I talk about incidents and emotions evoked by protests, tragedies, events during revolutions, and oppressive living conditions under systemic bias. I discover numerous commonalities between my daily existence and societal angst. Feelings of trust, hope, and fatigue stem from personal experiences, connecting to larger contexts.

Making art is not only a practice for me to fully express myself but also my way to participate in history as an insignificant individual. I want to reimagine the impacts of art as a soft power in the global world and discover the correlation between art-making and advocacy in sensible, creative, and critical ways. To participate in shaping history and utilizing my art whenever it is needed.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My overarching creative objective is to persistently propel and refine the affirmative influence of art on individuals. In the present milieu of art and technology, characterized by the swiftness of contemporary living, my aspiration is to generate artistic expressions that resonate with the current generation and address the pertinent issues of our time. The essence of my artistic practice is rooted in multifaceted goals, primarily centered around advocating for social causes, orchestrating impactful experiences, and stimulating a collective conscience. My work is an intentional fusion of artistic creation and societal engagement, with the dual purpose of serving and inspiring the public while authentically expressing my internal realizations.
Navigating the delicate equilibrium between creating art that serves a broader audience and concurrently serves as a conduit for personal introspection is an ongoing endeavor. My artistic journey involves a continuous exploration of this balance, seeking ways to bridge the gap between making art that is socially relevant and resonant, and simultaneously, an authentic manifestation of my inner thoughts and reflections. In this dynamic interplay, my aim is to contribute meaningfully to the discourse of our times and foster a deeper connection between art and the evolving pulse of contemporary society.

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

The most gratifying aspect of being an artist lies in the pure and liberating joy of creation. Each day, I immerse myself in the process of bringing to life something that aligns with my core beliefs and resonates with my heart. The journey involves engaging in contemplation, fueled by curiosity-driven research, giving rise to a harmonious blend of thoughts and expressive gestures. This immersive experience often leads me into a state of flow, where creativity flows effortlessly. Moreover, witnessing the impact of my work and the positive changes it brings to the people around me fosters a profound sense of connection with the world and the communities I am a part of. It’s not merely about individual expression but about the transformative power that art holds within a broader societal context. This interconnectedness with the audience and the ability to evoke emotions and thoughts in others add layers of significance to the artistic process. In essence, the act of creation becomes a dynamic and reciprocal exchange, enriching both the creator and the audience in a symbiotic relationship.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://celinelamart.com/2023
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c311n3/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celine-lam-b605b217a/