We were lucky to catch up with Zeyu Xue recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zeyu, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Taking a risk is not about pushing myself to get what I want for my expectation or desire; it is about the courage to face the unknown, the attitude and the action after what if I didn’t get it or be rejected or disappointed. I know I want to do something, and I am aware of what might be the worst result of the action I gotta take and I rationally believe that I am able to cover the result. Then I will take the risk for what I want.
Zeyu, 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?
I am currently pursuing my MFA Fine Arts degree in the School of Visual Art in New York. I do sculptures. I am originally from China. Seven years ago, following the big trend of studying abroad in the 2010s, I went to University of California, Irvine for my bachelor degree, majoring in Sculpture from 2016 to 2020. I went back to Shanghai after graduation and did several jobs such as the assistant in an artist studio, and the internship in merchandising in Gucci China, which reminded and solidified for me that I should continue to make sculptures. Since then, I have put most of my time and energy into sculpture, but I always do so willingly.
The attributes of sculpture itself hit me, independent, timeless, at the present but shouldering the past and the future, actual objective, palpable physical existence. My sculptures embody my natural essence as well as carry my history. They are triggered through the secular, my memories and pure randomness. They are in human-scales or over. My sculptures share common attributes that are repetition of textures, and gestures led by intuition. Most of them are made of industrial materials. They often look very light and muted in tone, but they do carry the heaviest and deepest parts of me, which spiritually construct me. Every sculpture I made is independent and free, ready to make its own connection to the outside world.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is one of the key-words in my art-making practice. I realized I am actually a very mentally strong person when I was very young in boarding school when I was 12. So I kept guiding and training myself, tuning this essense into a practical personal ability to against many weaknesses as a human-being, that I can sustainably be composed in any situations. The resilience and the composedness allow me to feel, think, and decide. In my process of sculpture-making, there are countless unexpected and risk-taking moments, so the ability of dominating, probing and problem-solving are essential, but all of the above are based on resilience.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
A quote from The Book of Tea, by Kakuzo Okakura, “The Present is the moving infinity; the legitimate sphere of the Relative. Relativity seeks Adjustment; Adjustment is Art.” I’ve read the book back and forth many times with different interpretations. Zennism and Daoism influenced me imperceptibly. I believe that letting time pass through the body. “A constant adjustment” keeps happening in a dynamic way. To me, the second before this second automatically becomes history, and the present is dynamic like a fixed point on a flowing stream. This mindset really allows me to live in the present and investigate it.
“Do what nobody else can do except for you.” Wim Wender said this in his interview, Advice to the young. I responded to it a lot. One’s ability to make the most cost-effective choice for oneself depends on accurate judgment of one’s own and objective external circumstances. This ability is gained through constant observation, reflection and practice. It is the infrastructure for success. It solidified my determination that I am not the only one who makes sculptures in this world, but I am definitely the one who can make sculptures in my circle and my sight.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.zeyuxue.com
- Instagram: @sixbaotea