Meet Ruoyun(Dry) Dai

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ruoyun(Dry) Dai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ruoyun(Dry), why did you pursue a creative career?
Pursuing a creative career felt like a natural extension of how I process the world. I’ve always been drawn to visual language—how it can communicate what words often can’t. Over time, I became increasingly interested in the intersection of emotion, technology, and narrative. Working with mediums like animation and lenticular print allowed me to explore perception in motion, and to build immersive visual experiences that invite viewers into shifting emotional states. Art isn’t just a profession for me—it’s how I make sense of complexity, and how I connect with others on a deeper level.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The work I’m currently most excited about is my Liminal series, an advanced lenticular print project that pushes the boundaries of both art and technology. Unlike purely digital artworks, physical pieces that merge animation with material form present a far greater challenge. For Liminal, I successfully integrated 56-frame hand-drawn animations into lenticular boards—a feat that not only expresses emotion, but also defines a new format of innovative visual storytelling.

At 2rt.studio, we developed multiple custom workflows to support this process. Working in ComfyUI, we used AI to test how specific motion parameters—like object speed, color shifts, direction, and amplitude—could be perceived when displayed through lenticular boards. These weren’t just creative experiments; they were precise engineering tests. I learned from my previous AR installation project Dream Complex that building effective prototypes often requires isolating one variable at a time, and that lesson became central to developing Liminal. The process was long and complex, but I’ve come to believe that deep iteration is the only path to true innovation.

What excites me most is that this series has resonated with audiences in such a visceral way. At the San Francisco Art Fair, our booth drew major attention—people were intrigued by how the animation played out inside a static aluminum frame without any screens. Many visitors came specifically to see it in person, after seeing others share the work across social media. That moment proved something I’ve always believed: when art and technology meet with intention, people feel it.

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?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d definitely take them to Fort Mason Center to experience the San Francisco Art Fair, especially since we participated in it this year. It’s a great way to see the latest in contemporary art and get a sense of the creative energy in the Bay Area.
I’d also bring them to our studio in San Carlos, which is where most of my work comes to life. That’s where I developed the Liminal series—from early prototypes to final lenticular prints. Every frame, every adjustment in depth and angle was crafted there. It’s not just a workspace—it’s where ideas become real, and where experimentation and technology meet emotion. I’d love for them to see how much happens behind the scenes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate this shoutout to the entire team at 2rt.studio. None of what I do would be possible without their talent, dedication, and belief in the power of merging art and technology. Every exhibition and every project, especially our presentation at the San Francisco Art Fair, has been the result of deep collaboration.
At 2rt.studio, we’ve developed numerous prototypes across a wide range of artistic formats. Using ComfyUI, we built customized workflows that leverage AI to enhance the visual storytelling of each piece. These workflows allow us to fine-tune depth, angle, and frame parameters specifically for lenticular boards, ensuring the best possible viewing experience. We spent countless hours testing, visualizing, and iterating together. I’m incredibly proud to work alongside such multidisciplinary minds who aren’t afraid to experiment, challenge norms, and build something truly new.

Website: https://www.dairuoyun.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruoyundai/

Image Credits
All the images from Ruoyun(Dry) Dai, and 2rt.studio team members