Meet David Wang | Artist

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

Hi David, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
Almost Buddist (ISBN: 9787505722453)

It’s a book introducing the ideas and terms behind Buddhist stories using common examples in the modern context. I had an impressive memory reading it since this is the book that made me learn the simple fact that religions beyond educating people and creating a centralized power, were built as humans tried to discover and define all matters in the universe before science. And I believe now that Buddism has a thinking system and philosophical ideas hidden behind its fancy-ass stories.

One should read the entire book to scratch the surface of Buddism. As the author Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Chökyi Rgya mtsho Rinpoche, mentioned at the very beginning of the book that this book elaborates, but is shallow into Buddism since there’s too much to write. The Buddhist opinions offered me an alternative perspective looking at almost everything and a quick but vivid glance at living as a true Buddhist. I saw reasonable thinking behind the Buddhist ideas that I may like to concur with and practice in the future. I find two things especially interesting in the book, though I don’t necessarily take them into mundane thinking. I imagine that I will benefit from them when I drop all my obsessions after maybe the age of fifty.

Disappointment is the result and expectation is the cause. How many factors should one expect to successfully drink a glass of hot water? The water is expected to be in the kettle, and the kettle is expected to boil. The water is expected to be poured precisely into the glass, and the glass is expected to be lifted up and steadily fed to the mouth. One could expect all this can happen because it has been happening continually, which would make it an experience. However, slightly the chance, there might not be water coming out of the sink; an outage could disrupt the boiling; and the glass could drop because of shaking hand. We sense anger from disappointment, yet we acknowledge that all these situations can happen. Experience is a form of illusion, blinding us from seeing the nature of all matters.

Buddism paints a very tragic picture from a modern perspective, but it has reasons. Death has meanings of scary, threatening, and ominous in many cultures. It became a touchy subject in some regions where people tend to avoid talking about it. Death is also brought out with merchandise and entertainment in regions where people do talk about it, like people dying getting shot in movies, comics, and video games. People either make death a forbidden subject in conversation or get numbed as they see death as less of a big deal, forgetting that death is the one and only destination for us all and will take away everything from us, assets, families, and achievements…

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started photographing under my father’s influence. I became truly passionate about it after he allowed me to use his cameras and lenses. My parents gave me full freedom to choose my college, which left me anxious about deciding on a major. While doing tedious homework, I realized that I wouldn’t feel fulfilled or truly alive if I pursued something I had no interest in. So, I decided to apply to art schools—and that marked the beginning of my artistic journey.

My enthusiasm for making art comes from an appreciation for beauty and profound curiosity in diverse artistic mediums. Capturing the organic beauty through a camera was initially my interest. Gradually, my artistic view grew beyond pure photography to a wide range of subjects, as my vision has evolved from the viewfinder of a camera to an understanding of global art and contemporary art issues. Currently, my work focuses on digital reality. Through 2D works, handmade books, installations, and text-based games, I explore the fusion of digital malfunctions, symbols, and reality and create a narrative that blurs the organic and digital realms.

I’d say the greatest challenge I’ve faced has been cultural alienation. I’m from Northern China, and I came to the U.S. during high school. Before I had a comprehensive understanding of my own culture, I was already distanced from it and immersed in a different one. This added to my confusion during a time when a person is shaping their understanding of the world around them. Even now, I’m still learning.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in New York City currently. Here’s where and how I would take them to:

Think of NYC as a realm, time flies at a different speed than anywhere else around the world. It’s more dense and more expensive. Therefore, I think walking at a slow pace in the city is luxurious. I will take my friend commuting on foot mostly throughout their visit. We shall get up anytime we want without drinking coffee and catching any schedule.

We’ll spend one day walking from Central Park down into Wall Street, seeing the glittering NYC. We’ll rest and eat as we wish.
We’ll spend one day walking across a random town. Babylon or Stoney Brook, they’ll name it.
We’ll spend one day at my house, letting them meet my other friends, playing tabletop games, and cooking.
We’ll spend one day walking in Chealse, seeing shows and exhibitions.
We’ll spend one day visiting a place that they’d like to go on this trip.
Before they leave by train, we’ll spend half a day in a quiet corner of the Grand Central or Penn Station, one of the places where time is even more dense than other places. We’ll eat and chat while observing the people-sea.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shoutout to the students and faculties at the School of Visual Arts Photo Department. Although I haven’t reached any major milestones since earning my undergraduate degree, I’m now deeply passionate about the art and work I’m creating. I wouldn’t have the skills and knowledge for my artistic practice, nor the supportive environments for making art, if it weren’t for them! And a special thanks to my partner Zheng, whom I’ve known for five years and who has been with me through challenges, supporting and inspiring me along the way.

Website: https://davidsreallygoodwebsite.cargo.site

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