I. Self Introduction

Cindy: Hi everyone, and welcome. I’m excited to introduce today's special guest, our artist Xinyuan Zhan. Xinyuan, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

Xinyuan Zhan: Of course! Hello everyone, my name is Xinyuan Zhan, and I'm from Nanjing, Jiangsu. I graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, where I focused on picture book creation for both my bachelor's and master's degrees. For me, each picture is a slice of a story—it can be infinitely thin or incredibly rich. Currently, I work part-time as a publisher and illustrator. Drawing is not just a hobby but also my ideal pursuit; it recharges my energy, and I hope to pass on this energy through my art.

II. Concept Sharing

Aixue: Can you share a bit about your artistic philosophy?

Xinyuan Zhan: I believe that black humor is a unique "fun" that adults possess, similar to how picture book creation captures children's eyes. Coming from a picture book background, I strive to create works that viewers can deeply engage with, setting up an ambiguous atmosphere and suspense to pique their interest. I admire artists like Tim Burton and Wes Anderson, masters of black humor who traverse the realms of reality and fantasy, truth and fiction. My good works are those that undergo constant refinement. I don't consider myself inherently talented, but through long-term drawing practice, I've developed a meticulous approach to my work. For instance, I often create multiple storyboard versions for a single story, with each iteration significantly refined. This dedication to my work is a core part of my creative philosophy.

Cindy: That’s interesting! And where do you usually draw inspiration from?

Xinyuan Zhan: Inspiration often comes from my interests. When I start a project, I look for a thematic anchor—this can come from various directions. Once I have this anchor, I build my ideas on it, choosing the right visual language to convey the desired effect. This process varies depending on the audience, user, or occasion. I like to explore different areas of knowledge and develop new hobbies, finding connections across disciplines and discovering creative points in the real world with a fantastical perspective.

Aixue: What challenges do you face in your creative process, and how do you overcome them?

Xinyuan Zhan: The most challenging part is also the most fascinating—translating abstract concepts into visual forms. For instance, while creating "The Intracranial Roaming Guide," I had to visualize abstract terms like emotions, memory, and consciousness. This process requires significant time and effort. Half of my drawing time involves collecting materials and converting language into visuals. As an art student, my knowledge of science, biology, and psychology is amateurish. When a publisher categorizes my books, I never claim to produce science illustrations; rather, I extend my creativity based on professional knowledge. Creating each illustration is a journey of learning new things, which I enjoy immensely.

III. Introducing "The Intracranial Roaming Guide"

Cindy: It's really fascinating to hear about your creative process. You have mentioned "The Intracranial Roaming Guide," which inspired the concept of this exhibition. Could you tell us more about this series and share your favorite pieces from it?

Xinyuan Zhan: Created in 2020, this concept picture book invites readers to explore the workings of the brain. It's published now and uses the brain's consciousness as a starting point, combining imagination and research. I introduce the principles through three systems: world weather, world geography, and world civilization. I combine the abstract concepts of emotion, memory, and thought with knowledge from brain science and psychology, and then correspond these with tangible elements like weather, geology, and transportation. The interactions between these systems make our brains function. Each brain may harbor a fantastical world. This world has diverse creatures and varied weather. Your emotions, memories, and thoughts are managed by different entities in this world. My favorite pieces include the unique language system and the three main scenes depicting emotions, memory, and thought.

The first one is Emotion System. In this realm, the entire world is created by the Primordial Spirit of Consciousness, a mysterious entity that constructs this universe. Your emotions are no longer your own but are the product of the Weather Wizard. The Weather Wizard’s Weather Bureau operates and manages your anger, excitement, sadness, and joy, concocting and executing these emotions through various formulas.

The second one would be Memory System. Your memories are written with emotional ink by the Hippocampus Wordsmith and then sent to the Hippocampus Maze for organization and storage. Here, significant memories are carefully preserved, while less important ones are sent to the Seed of Time to be forgotten. As for your thoughts, they are produced and transported by the Fantasia Voyager, who assists the Department of Transport. The various activities of the intracranial world's inhabitants generate these thoughts.

And the last is Thought System. The residents of this world are our brain cells and thousands of neurons. The chemicals that provide energy to our brains, such as dopamine and endorphins, are the plants within this system, along with many other elements. Due to the extensive world-building I have set up, this world includes many biologically related settings. This world has its own language system, created to enrich the narrative.

Aixue: That’s fabulous! So what inspired you to create this series?

Xinyuan Zhan: In pure scientific fields, four fundamental questions exist: matter, life, the universe, and consciousness. While the first three have made significant strides, the nature of consciousness remains elusive. I often ponder how we become aware of our consciousness. Dubbed the "three-pound universe," our brain inspired me to create this guide, exploring how this small universe operates. I hope readers feel a myriad of beings in their minds awakening, sparking curiosity about life and science, and encouraging deeper philosophical reflections.

Cindy: Thank you so much for sharing those insights with us. We hope your experiences help our audience gain a deeper understanding of this exhibition. Now, we'll move on to the Q&A session. I'm sure the audience is eager to learn more about you and your work.

IV. Q&A

Q1: Why did you choose to collaborate with TEAOC.ART?

Xinyuan Zhan: Initially, TEAOC ART's founding mission really attracted me. My work seeks commonalities between different cultures, so I wanted to showcase it beyond China. After deep discussions with Mengru and other members, I found that TEAOC.ART is committed to supporting Chinese artists. They create opportunities for our work to be seen, just like today. Their support feels warm and emotionally connected, which is particularly comforting for a young artist like me. They also provide professional development, which I greatly appreciate.

Q2: Blue appears frequently in your work. Does it hold any special significance?

Xinyuan Zhan: It's somewhat coincidental. I’ve tried other styles, but blue suited my major works. Simple colors convey a sense of mystery and romanticism. To emphasize the prominence of the main characters, I prefer to use a single color or a particular ink color as the base, applied on white paper with black or another single color, creating a striking contrast and making the imagery vivid and powerful. For “The Theater of Time and Light Series”, I used blue for modern scenes and brown for historical contexts, symbolizing progress and heritage. Blue represents the future and technology, while brown symbolizes tradition. Ultimately, blue felt more romantic and fitting for my work.

Q3: What are your thoughts on the exhibition's theme exploring the connection between the self and the universe?

Xinyuan Zhan: Discussing the self and the universe often touches on existence and consciousness. Though I haven’t studied philosophy formally, I see connections between this theme and my “The Intracranial Roaming Guide." Physically, we and all things consist of energy and matter, existing in time and space. But do we share the same world? Each individual lives in their own world, observing and experiencing everything through their own lens. “I” am everything, and everything is “I.” Consciousness is a universal attribute, though its manifestation differs. Through my creations, I aim to present my world to everyone.

Q4: What’s your understanding of the essence of life?

Xinyuan Zhan: The essence of life poses a profound philosophical inquiry that humanity has pondered for millennia. Different cultures, religions, and sciences offer varied explanations. I don’t know the essence of life, but for me, it’s about experience. Experiences shape my life and worldview. I value every moment, whether good or bad, joyful or painful. This perspective is deeply intertwined with my creative pursuits. For me, art is not only a profession but also a means of articulating the essence of existence through lived experience. Art devoid of emotional depth lacks vitality. Experience serves as the foundation of art and aesthetics, allowing us to convey profound insights through our creations. Through my artwork, I aim to share a piece of myself with viewers, fostering a deeper connection and potentially expanding our collective consciousness to explore new realms of possibility.

Curator: Cindy Ye

Host: Aixue