We were lucky to catch up with Yuexing Sun recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuexing, thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

Hmm, let me think…

The answer is definitely not ‘later,’ but do I wish I had started it sooner? Not necessarily. I believe my prior life experiences were actually the key, the catalyst for me to begin my career as a theater director and performance artist. It was during those times, like when I was working regular day jobs, that I realized how eager I was to be the person creating magic on the stage myself. Furthermore, I genuinely believe that every single step along the way holds value. These choices, regardless of how big or small they were, have constructed who I am today and dictate what I care about most as a creative. So, yes, I think the timing of when I started my creative career was perfect! If I could go back, the only thing I would change is to learn more and try even harder!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hey there! It’s a pleasure to share a little bit about myself. My name is Yuexing Sun, but you can also call me Star which is essentially the English translation of my first name. I was born from Inner Mongolia, and have lived in Beijing, Tokyo and now in New York City.

Primarily, I am a theater director and performance artist. Occasionally, I also dabble in sound design. For me, theater and performing arts serve as my lens through which I interpret the world, observing humanity and raising critical questions about subjects that often don’t receive the attention they deserve, such as gender violence and censorship. This, in my view, encapsulates the intriguing and somewhat ‘unconventional’ aspect of being a theater and performance creator. We’re not necessarily out to solve problems; rather, we aim to spotlight them and establish a space where people can come together to confront them.

In terms of my creative endeavors, while I do appreciate classic theatrical texts like those of Shakespeare or Chekhov, my true fascination lies in narratives and events rooted in the present era, capable of sparking cross-cultural discussions, especially those sifted through larger social frameworks swayed or informed by history, identity and politics. For example, a piece I crafted titled ‘The Epic of A Woman’, which draws from my personal experiences of mistreatment due to my female identity, as well as the profound regrets I’ve witnessed women carry, regardless of their social status. In this performance, I employed dozens of red strings, symbolically linking my wrists to the audience’s seats, depicting a sense of confinement. Eventually, I invited audience members to collectively free me by untying the strings, emphasizing the collective action needed to liberate women. Like this piece, my other works share a similar quality, addressing significant questions through the often overlooked lens of individual experiences.

In terms of style, I consider movements and multimedia as vital components of my creations. In my pieces, you’ll encounter uncommon experiences centered around poetic physicality and multi-dimensional existence. Furthermore, in addition to traditional theater spaces, I also delve into site-specific works, be it on a rooftop, in a bookstore, or within a park. ‘Theater and performance’ encompasses such a broad spectrum; I envisage a lifetime spent exploring its breadth and depth.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

There are just so many ways society can step up to support artists, and I believe these initiatives should benefit not only artists, but everyone:

1. Provide affordable housing and reduce living expenses to allow artists to focus on our craft.

2. Increase salaries to enable artists to fully commit to our creative pursuits.

3. Establish an accessible and affordable learning system for artists to continuously refine our skills and foster creativity.

4. More financial support- more grants and fundings to bolster artists’ projects.

5. A genuinely diverse and inclusive space, welcoming artists of all cultural backgrounds, races, and genders. Imagining in such an environment, even the most sensitive discussions can take place, and artists can fearlessly experiment with our chosen art forms.

These actions are not only about improving tangible support, but also about raising awareness regarding the importance of art in our society. How much value do we place on art, and to what extent do we recognize its significance? With an elevated collective consciousness, I believe supportive actions will naturally follow!

Additionally, it’s crucial for us, as creatives, to nurture ourselves and foster a sense of community. We shouldn’t confine ourselves within the so-called artist circles, or in our head space, but actively care and engage with the wider world of people from all walks of life to tap into its impulses. I believe it will not only enriches our work, but also strengthens our collective voice in advocating for the value of art in society.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Here’s my story to answer this question. So in my junior year of college in Beijing, one unforgettable night, my friend and I were biking from Tiananmen Square back to my dorm. It was such a long way with the rain pouring down around us but strangely we were excited and sober more than ever. At that time, as a young student sensing the uncertainty coming along with graduation, I struggled with the path I should take and the person I aspired to become. It was during that very night, maybe thanks to the rain that helped to clear my mind, a simple yet profound thought spontaneously entered my head: I should “encounter as many diverse individuals as possible and immerse myself in a multitude of intriguing experiences”.

Although this Epiphany moment unfolded years ago, and I had yet to envision embarking on a creative journey, I now regard it as the compass guiding my career. This inner compass leads me to engage with a broad spectrum of people, ensuring their voices are heard, and to venture fearlessly into the world’s uncharted territories.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: star.starsun
• Facebook: Yuexing Sun
• Linkedin: Yuexing Sun
• Other: Vimeo: Yuexing Star Sun

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Abigail Rhyne Show Photo: 1. Yuan Oliver Jin 2. Caden Manson 3. Lisa Wang 4. Dylan Thomas 5. Xiao Ye 6. Yuexing Sun