Today we’d like to introduce you to Shang-Yi Hua.
Shang-Yi, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born in Taiwan and moved to United States when I was young in order to pursue a collegiate education. Though always a creative at heart, I never considered that it was possible to be an artist due to the barrier my conservative cultural background created. It wasn’t until I signed up for classes at the Glassell School of Art where I discovered the medium of sculpture, and I haven’t stopped creating since. After receiving my certificate from Glassell, I applied for and was admitted to the advanced studio BLOCK program in Glassell School of Art MFAH.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I think of the process of making sculptures as keeping a diary to record what touches and inspires me, as well as what happens around me. Most of my subjects and ideas originate from meditating on various aspects of my inner-journey, providing insight on the natural materials that I select.
When I create a sculpture, I usually have an image already in my mind; sometimes it is Chinese calligraphy, and other times it is something more simple and organic. I produce work that merges natural and artificial materials, East and West cultures, or spirituality and personal reality. I use various techniques such as applying heat to acrylic, making resin molds, welding, and woodworking to form visual and physical connections in my art practice.
Being an artist for me is creating a space for the viewer to have free and individual interpretation of my spiritual pursuit. I hope that viewers are compelled to walk life’s journey with me through my artworks.
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Follow your heart. Don’t give up. Be brave to share your works with other people.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
During the last year, my works were featured in “Known and Underknown” at 2 Allen Center and “BLOCK exhibition “at Williams Tower Gallery, and Assistance League of Houston celebrates Texas Art at Williams Tower Gallery.
Currently I have a Solo Exhibition “ Matters of the Heart “ in Cindy Lisica Gallery (4411 Montrose Blvd. suite#F) from 4/6 to 5/12
To see my works in the solo exhibition is a big support to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.shangyihua.com/
- Instagram: shangyihua
Image Credit:
The pictures of individual art work were taken by Will Michels
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