Meet Aletta Ren | Artist & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aletta Ren and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aletta, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Life experience is to creation as rain is to seeds; without it, no matter how abundantly seeds are sown, the field remains barren. I’ve taught creative writing workshops and courses in fine arts and design. Most classes focus on imparting techniques, touching only the surface layer of the creative process. As learning progresses, the most crucial lesson we can impart to students is ‘how to live.’

I believe that in creative industries, work-life balance often resembles a gray fog. The addictive nature of creation, drawing deeply from the well of life, easily blurs the lines between work and living. Within this fog, it’s essential to keep our lights on, remaining attentive to the essence of life and cherishing the real people we encounter. We must not grow impatient with the intricacies of daily life, seek refuge in our work from the world, or become indifferent to the everyday.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Before I became a visual artist, I had dedicated over a decade to pursuing a career in writing. From a young age, creative work was the main melody of my life and my passion. In my youth, I believed the impulse to create was as natural and inherent as breathing, not something to be cherished, and that it wouldn’t vanish even if left unused for a long time. I thought the talent for creativity was merely the result of practice, a belief that “sitting alone in front of a computer or easel for twelve hours would inevitably yield a finished product.” It wasn’t until I had conversations with masters that I realized my shallow understanding of creation, only scratching the surface without grasping its deeper essence.

During my undergraduate studies, discussions with peers shifted from technique to life experiences. Initially, I had little interest in such conversations; the mundanities of daily life and neighborhood gossip seemed irrelevant to my work. I wanted nothing more than to bury myself in my room, endlessly drawing and writing. Reality seemed dull compared to the thrilling worlds of my imagination. I thought making creation my life’s sole focus was enough; I needed nothing else—I didn’t need a real life.

Then, I fell in love. L pursued me after a summer course, offering a warmth I had only read about in books, never daring to hope I would experience it myself. I received his love but didn’t reciprocate, quickly turning back to my work after the initial novelty. I aimed high, striving for greater creative achievement, fame, and fortune, while he cared more about where we went together, and whether I was upset about something. Years later, we broke up for practical reasons. That night, I realized I hadn’t lived well; the precious moments I should have cherished with him were squandered in my obsession with work. We traveled to beautiful places, but when he held my hand and confessed his feelings, I was absorbed in scripting, plotting stories, and calculating income.

I hadn’t wasted my life, but I had wasted living. I regretted it.

The neglect of life soon became apparent in my work. I lacked inspiration, emotion, and even that instinctive urge I thought was innate. Although my skills in painting and writing improved, the content I could create dwindled.

During the pandemic, I paused my relentless pursuit of creation to focus on living. I took a part-time job that barely covered my needs, stopped taking on other commissions, and paused the projects I was working on. I cooked, read, gardened in the yard of my rented home, spent the entire afternoon walking five miles along the streets, and talked to everyone I met. The life I once deemed mundane and dull was full of surprises and inspiration. I began to reflect on my past life, reaching out to people I had neglected, and reestablishing connections.

After the pandemic ended, I pursued a dual-degree graduate program and had the fortune to participate in the Turner Art Residency in LA, allowing me to live and hold art exhibitions in this beautiful city. In the waterfront area of San Pedro in LA, I once again experienced the beauty of the ordinary. I spent numerous evenings wandering the seashore and hills, witnessing the sky’s transformation from orange to grape, then to blueberry and blackberry hues.

In LA, the sunshine is radiant, and even the wind sparkles. Running down the hills, the soft flowers and leaves lose their shadows to the wind. They’re fuzzy, fluttering unpredictably. Yet, San Pedro is also arid, filled with stones and twigs. These sharp, coarse objects, along with the delicate, soft flora and the massive machinery and containers at the harbor, create a peculiar texture combination. It’s a scenery rarely seen elsewhere, intriguing to me like a complex, gentle dream.

I began to paint each day I spent there, using ink and watercolor for the flora I encountered and acrylic for the distinct shadows. I captured my sensations as faithfully as possible. People rise with the sun and rest at its setting, the moon waxes and wanes as ever. This, I believe, is the essence of life.

As all things flow by, I drift with the wind. Yet, each time I climb the hill, I marvel at the harbor’s beauty, pausing at the sight of the extensive reeds. I draw the daily affairs of life as if every moment matters.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I primarily resided in San Pedro during the residency, so I’m somewhat familiar with the area. The coast near the Korean Bell offers a beautiful view of the sunset. Adjacent to the harbor, the IOWA Battleship Museum is worth visiting. Kalaveras and La Bocca Felice are my favorite restaurants there.

In downtown LA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the museum I frequent the most. The exhibitions in the museum offer endless inspiration for artists. The Grove shopping center, located near the museum, is a great spot for shopping and dining.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to thank Syracuse University, Marylyn Ginsburg-Klaus, and Chuck Klaus for providing the LA Turner Art Residency. This residency allowed me to live in amazing LA and hold an art exhibition. Also, special thanks to Burmu Li. He taught me how to live, and inspired some of my best works.

Website: www.alettaren.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alettaren155/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aletta-ren-65a279245/