Meet Zhengyu Zhang | Artist

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

Hi Zhengyu, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
As I mature, I find increasing delight in life’s small pleasures. The subtle yet invaluable moments, like a trip to a new country or conversations with friends, constitute my life. I try to immerse myself in the world as much as I can and experience different emotional encounters. To me, happiness is like being the protagonist in my own story. Anything in the future is full of uncertainty and miracles, and I always have expectations for the upcoming things.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artworks consistently explore the relationship between humanity and the environment, emphasizing the merged part of interaction and the pursuit of stillness and harmony. Through oil painting, clay, printmaking, and yarn, my artworks exist in a tangible world, inviting touch and connection. Crafting art isn’t simple; While I am faced with a blank canvas, countless choices arise, each demanding careful consideration. Seeking recognition is also a challenge to an artist’s journey; critiques and comments could make me doubt myself. Yet, my method of staying true to myself involves continuously collecting and creating what I love, and my passion’s core will finally be revealed.

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.
If my best friends visit Lanzhou in China, I’d ensure they savor the iconic beef noodles and indulge in local delights like Sweet Fermented Grain Milk Tea and Jiangshui Yogurt, which is made from the remaining water after fermenting celery and cabbage. We’d explore the historic Zhongshan Bridge and ascend Baita Mountain for breathtaking views. Lanzhou’s rich tea culture would be on our agenda, perhaps enjoying a leisurely ship tour on the Yellow River while sipping on Sanpaotai, a traditional tea featuring green tea as its base, complemented by ingredients like rock sugar, chrysanthemum, rose, red dates, dried longan, and wolfberry.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shout-out to my family, who support me in pursuing my passion. They stand by me through emotional ups and downs and encourage me even when things aren’t going well. Being an artist may seem impractical to some, but their trust empowers me to see it as a viable lifelong career and to grow in my artistic journey.

Website: https://zhengyuzhang.com

Instagram: zhengyu_u

Image Credits
@zhengyuzhang