Meet Min-wei Ang | Architectural Designer & 3D Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Min-wei Ang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Min-wei, what are you inspired by?
Many, if not most of the themes I chose to explore within my work are directly inspired by the process of filmmaking, particularly in the science fiction genre. I view speculative fiction as a tool to dissect our lived realities, a lens to understand and imagine our past, present and future. There is a complexity in the building of a believable world that I am eager to emulate in my own process. Most of my favorite films were made before visual effects were as developed as they are now, and I often find myself scouring the internet with an obsessive drive for behind the scenes photos of practical effects or miniature models and sets, just to better understand how these different elements come together to create a powerful narrative atmosphere.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Pursuing an education in architecture, it took some time for me to find a path that allowed me to work on projects I was genuinely invested in. I realized pretty early on that my interest in the discipline was motivated largely by a passion for architectural theory. Being in school meant a wide exposure to different branches of thought, and I found myself experimenting with different modes and means of creation to find a format that best represents my ideas. Sometimes that required doing extensive research or learning different software on my own time, which was definitely a challenge given the volume of work we were usually tasked with. However, I don’t regret the time and effort I dedicated towards experimentation and research, even if it didn’t immediately yield amazing results. These crucial stages have helped form the approach and mindset I have to this day. I find myself constantly digging into the archive of journals, books and images I’ve accumulated throughout the years to spark inspiration, or find a solution to an issue I might be facing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Currently based in Brooklyn, I’d love to grab a drink with friends anywhere with a good deal on beers. In general, I’ve had the most fun sitting around a park and taking in what the city has to offer. If someone were to visit right now, we’d probably end up at a movie theater either catching a film we’ve had on a watchlist for a while or just hoping to be surprised by whatever was currently showing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
After probably too many late nights in studio during my time in college, I owe a lot to my peers and friends in terms of support, both creatively and mentally. Though we were all struggling with our respective projects especially during thesis year, it was good to know that there was always someone down the hallway ready to help. The diverse range of ideas and approaches that echoed throughout the studio provided a great platform for further discussions, I’m very grateful to have been a part of such an exciting environment.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/min-wei-ang-29a364167/

Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/876273272?share=copy