Meet Zhang Viola | designer

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

Hi Zhang, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’m also constantly trying to find a work-life balance. Work also takes up most of my time, but I enjoy the process of being at work. I feel like it’s also a part of my life. As for my personal life, I think of my relationship with my family and loved ones as my own upbringing. Sometimes, I also think that life and work don’t need to be separated, because they are both my choices

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a costume designer, and the happiest thing about my job is that when the actors put on the clothes I designed, they say “this is my role”, “this dress helps me perform”, and when I see them performing on stage in costume. Since I was 19 years old, I went to Rome, Italy alone. In the 6 years I have lived in Europe, I have walked for 2-3 hours almost every day to enjoy the beauty of European cities. Museums, theatres and travels have had a positive impact on my studies and work. In the process of studying art, I was exposed to theater, and when I entered the theater, I was deeply fascinated by it. At first it was opera and ballet, and later it was film. It’s a world made up of “characters”, and in the process of designing the characters’ clothes, I can enter another world, feel other people, know them and get close to them, which makes my world bigger. It’s a job where you have to talk to a lot of people, especially a lot of actors, which is a challenge, but it’s also a fun part. The actor’s perception of the character and the requirements for the image can be perceived.

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.
My favorite cities in China are Shanghai and Hangzhou. If you are going to China, I will take you to see Chinese opera, Chinese landscapes, and taste Chinese food. Especially in Shanghai, you can walk a lot of streets, and you can see a lot of history

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Andrea Viotti, my teacher in college, helped me a lot. He was the one who introduced me to the costume design industry. Led me to study and practice in the theater. And then there is my current lover and partner, Ao, who has always believed in me and encouraged me, and in his trust, I have become more confident

Instagram: viola.qiqi

Facebook: Viola Zhang

Youtube: violaqi1212@gmail.com

Image Credits
《last man standing》 《white snake》 《disappear》 《panda》