Meet You Chen Zhang | Scenic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with You Chen Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi You Chen, why did you pursue a creative career?
I don’t know; I am simply following my heart. I’ve explored various career paths, but I felt there needed to be a better fit. While interning at a bank while at business school, I found myself confined to a cubicle, repeating the same daily work. It’s a stable, comfortable career and a well-paid job, but I know I can’t do that; I couldn’t envision spending the next fifty years in that routine. I want to do something new and face some unknown challenges; in this way, I can feel I am alive and that time exists. That’s when I realized my love for visual art and storytelling. It led me to pursue a career in theatre, where I could embrace new challenges.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a scenic designer for theatre, I believe that theatre is not just a stage but a platform to express my thoughts and ideas to the audience. It is a mirror that reflects who I am, and I use it to share my voice with the world. I grew up in China and immigrated to Canada at the age of 12, and this experience has given me a unique perspective that I bring to my work. As an MFA student in Scenic and Production Design at UCLA, I am constantly exploring new ways to integrate Eastern and Western beauty, philosophy, and poetry onto the stage. My experience as a magician has taught me how to create a dream for my audience, capturing their minds and surprising them along the way. I never refuse any unachievable idea because the word “impossible” excites a magician. I always present my design unexpectedly to my audience, leaving them awestruck and inspired. Through my work, I hope to show that culture is a coalition of the best human intellectual achievements and that the beauty of art is multicultural.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my friends come to visit, I’ve got the whole trip mapped out. First stop: Universal Studios for some serious fun. Then, we’ll hit up the Getty Center and Villa for some culture. The next day, we’ll head to Long Beach for a good theatre show and a French dinner at Chez Bacchus. On our last day, we’ll hike in Griffith Park and catch the sunset at the Griffith Observatory. To wrap it up, we’ll eat delicious Thai food at Ruen Pair in Thai Town. It’s going to be a trip to remember.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a big shoutout to Raymond Marius Boucher, my chairperson during my undergraduate studies. He really guided me into the world of theatre. I’ll never forget showing up to my interview with the wrong portfolio—it was full of videos of my magic tricks—because, at that time, I did not know what theatre or design was. I even said I wanted to perform those tricks on stages I designed. But instead of kicking me out, Mr. Boucher took the time to explain what theatre design was all about. He asked if I was really into it and said I could readjust my portfolio and submit it later. Through his guidance and the opportunity he provided, I discovered my true passion. I promised him then that I would bring the magic of my creativity to the theatre, and I intend to keep that promise.

Website: https://barestage.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/you_ch_z?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr