Meet Yibin Wang | Theater Director & Artist

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

Hi Yibin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I came from a familial and social background that was very strict and goal-oriented. There was a lot of calculation, efficiency, and results. Going into a field that is artistic and creative opened up a very new door for me, making me realize there are a lot more possibilities of perceiving the world than the one I experienced during my upbringing. I felt liberated by it, and I wanted to pursue an artistic career in which I can best figure a world view of my own.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I wanted to share a special video with you. It was a video that my mom sent me on an ordinary day. In the video, she is ballroom dancing in a very fancy dress in a dimly lit underground ballroom. As I watched the video, I started to cry. My mother is a woman of remarkable strength and vulnerability, someone who has rarely gotten what she wanted out of life. Despite her resilience, she sometimes lives in a lonely and melancholic way. When she was young, she was invited to join a singing and dancing troupe, a dream opportunity for her. However, her father refused to let her participate, and she still talks about that missed chance with me to this day.

In the video, I saw her shining in a way I had never seen before. She was radiant, exuding a joy and confidence that was completely new to me. This moment, captured in an ordinary person’s life, is precisely the kind of beauty I strive to capture and celebrate in my art.

I aim to create art that reflects the banality of life, highlighting the mundane and sometimes vulgar aspects of our existence. By curating a structure and form that elevate these everyday experiences, I hope to refresh our perception and appreciation of them.

The most important lesson I have learned is that my work must stay true to myself. While I might start with a social or political perspective, ultimately, my art needs to reflect my own feelings and experiences authentically. I cannot afford to be dishonest about that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Lately, I’ve found myself frequently visiting Chinatown on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn. Each time I go, I am overwhelmed by a profound sense of nostalgia. The interactions between people, the bustling energy of the streets, and the vibrant atmosphere all contribute to an experience that is both familiar and remarkable. The way vendors call out to passersby, the rich aroma of street food wafting through the air, and the colorful displays in shop windows all evoke vivid memories of my past. It’s as if each visit transports me to another time and place, filled with warmth and connection.

For anyone looking to immerse themselves in a vibrant cultural setting, a visit to Chinatown on 8th Avenue in Brooklyn is highly recommended. It offers an incredible glimpse into the heart of a community that is both deeply rooted in tradition and bustling with contemporary life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In addition to expressing my heartfelt gratitude to my family, my dearest friends, mentors, teachers, and colleagues whom I acknowledged previously, I would like to extend my appreciation to several cultural figures who have profoundly influenced my life and work.

The renowned theater director and playwright Stan Lai has had a significant impact on me. His philosophical approach to theater has deeply intrigued me, encouraging me to think more deeply about the motivations behind my creative endeavors. His work has been instrumental in shaping the way I perceive and approach my own art.

Furthermore, I hold the films of Edward Yang in high regard. His cinematic masterpieces have inspired me to view the world through a lens of compassion, emphasizing social and political dimensions. Yang’s portrayal of the ordinary aspects of life has taught me to find artistic value in everyday experiences, enriching my creative expression.

I am deeply grateful to these cultural icons for their enduring influence on my artistic journey. Their contributions have not only enriched my understanding but have also inspired me to pursue my own creative path with greater depth and insight.

Website: https://yibinwang.weebly.com/

Instagram: yibinbillwang

Image Credits
Personal Photo Credit to: Kai Miedendorp Additional Photo Credit to: Yibin Wang; Yejia Sun, Carol Rosegg, Chris Kayden