10 Questions with Danzhu Hu

Danzhu Hu is an award-winning Chinese visual storyteller, currently specializing in illustration and fine art painting. After graduating with a B.E. degree, she received her master’s degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology, MFA Illustration program.

As a multi-disciplinary illustrator, Hu works with different media ranging from paper-cut paintings to digital animations. For her, it’s all about playfulness. Hu’s professional practice is always somewhat personal and intimate; she approaches complex topics with tender curiosity, starting by searching for the emotional anchor that she resonates with. Then she will retell the story as if it’s one of her own. Thus, her work often feels whimsical yet vulnerable, playful yet melancholic, with a touch of symbolism. Hu’s valuable skill set in handling complex topics and expressing them with emotional depth has drawn in notable clients like TIME Magazine, The Baffler, Sojourners Magazine, and more.

Hu’s work has been recognized by major international illustration awards like the World Illustration Awards, American Illustration, 3x3 Magazine, The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles, Creative Quarterly, and more. Her work has also been showcased in many art galleries and art fairs in different countries.

www.danzuhu.com | @danzhu.hu

ARTIST STATEMENT

Through her practice, Hu wishes to create a world where the most cryptic, subtle, and complicated emotions can be captured, translated, and cherished. Hu's visual language also plays into the sense of emotiveness. Her work is filled with aesthetic cues reminiscent of nature's organic forms, where she hides subtle metaphors. She can translate enigmatic emotions into earthy embodiments, capturing the feelings of closeness through the interwoven and harmonious shapes of vines, while portraying the sense of turmoil in the entangled and lifeless pattern of branches.

Hu's work is whimsically melancholic with a touch of symbolism, where loose lines and vibrant colors prevail. She likes to break down and reconstruct physiological norms to emphasize the emotional aspects of human existence. She extracts things from their natural habitats and situates them in novel environments. Thus, one can often find cyborg-like beings in these pieces. Hu creates a world that seems intimately familiar yet organically foreign, as if she used a filter made of symbols and metaphors to reveal a world full of raw emotions and vulnerabilities, something she finds to be truly alien in our world.

Farewell, Neurodermatitis, Acrylic on Layered Paper, 15x22 inch, 2022 © Danzhu Hu

INTERVIEW

Please, introduce yourself to our readers. What is your background, and why did you decide to be an artist in the first place?

Hello there! I'm Danzhu Hu, an award-winning visual artist, currently specializing in illustration and fine art painting. I also work as a creative director, so I'd say I'm an artist who focuses on storytelling and problem-solving.
I'd say my artistic journey took root unconsciously during my childhood. Growing up in a small town in China, I first discovered my unusual interest in art, especially drawing, when hours would effortlessly slip away as I drew. In comparison, other things just seem so mundane and quite challenging to focus on. In retrospect, drawing was my way to find solace in the chronic loneliness I experienced as an only child in the family and an outcast in the boarding school where I spent most of my teenage years. And it was more, and it was a way to express my emotions, meditate, and forge connections with the world around me.
After finishing my undergraduate studies in China, I embarked on a new chapter in New York, pursuing a graduate degree in illustration. It was during this transformative period that my passion for visual storytelling blossomed; Its captivating power of bridging cultures and echoing shared human experiences fascinates me.

What is your aim as an artist?

I understand that this will likely change as my journey unfolds, but for now, I'd say my main focus is to highlight the emotional experience of being human. As mentioned in my artist statement, through my practice, I aim to create a world where the most cryptic, subtle, and complicated emotions can be captured, translated, and cherished. Additionally, I would love to approach my audience via an emotional anchor about topics that I find important, such as mental health advocacy and gender equality.

You primarily work with illustration and define yourself as a storyteller. How has this definition changed over the years?

Yes, I think it has evolved a lot. In retrospect, I wasn't sure what drawing or painting meant to me before I decided to study illustration. I assumed it was about the replication of what I found beautiful through my pencils and brushes, and that's why lots of my doodles were human portraits. But unconsciously, I found that definition lacking certain fulfilling aspects for me.
After studying illustration, I started to explore more what I wish to express as an artist. But I found that to be quite challenging as I struggled with translating the abstract and personal inner land of mine. However, that changed drastically when I learned more about illustration, which was defined by one of my professors as visual storytelling. To me, it was a process of dissecting the obscure, abstract, and complicated into digestible elements, then rearranging them into a story that could resonate with the audience not only on a logical but also emotional level. And that helped me tremendously with processing and then expressing myself.

And why did you choose illustration specifically? What does this medium represent for you?

When I chose to study illustration, it was more of a career choice rather than an artistic outlet. However, the more I learned about illustration, the more fascinated I became by its versatility. It can manifest as a single painting or a series of drawings, be executed digitally or analogly, and even in the form of animation or sculpture. I love exploring the infinite possibilities of visual storytelling by constantly experimenting with different media. Therefore, for me, illustration really represents a mindset of unbound playfulness.

Speaking of your work, you work both digitally and on paper. How does your approach change with different techniques?

When it comes to working with both digital and analog media, I've learned to work with the media instead of against it, embracing the organic results each media brings. For instance, when I work with watercolors, I enjoy preserving the natural watercolor marks and even enhancing them. Similarly, when creating a digital painting, I'd like to accentuate the glossiness and shine characteristic of the digital medium. As a result, I am constantly discovering new visual marks, allowing them to become an integral part of my visual language.

Patient Burnout for TIME Magazine, Acrylic on Layered Paper, 15x22 inch, 2023 © Danzhu Hu

You also work with animation. How do you keep a cohesive style working with different mediums and techniques?

It can be quite challenging to keep a congestive style when approaching different mediums, especially when it comes to static images vs animations. Since my work is quite intricate and detail-oriented, it is somewhat difficult to replicate the same level of rendering and details in animations. Therefore, I believe it is crucial to have regular conversations with myself and ask, 'What is my style?' While I acknowledge that artistic style is an ever-evolving process, it is also important to maintain a cohesive voice. Thus, I'll try to keep some signature elements of mine in all my work, such as color combinations or my organic shapes, regardless of the media I'm working on.

What are the main messages you would like to communicate with your art?

I believe that, beneath it all, my main message is that by revealing the vulnerable side of the human experience, we all have the potential to connect with each other on an unimaginably deeper level. This is why I believe art is immensely important for human beings, as it possesses the power to unveil what is often concealed, ignored, or dismissed in our society. Our tears, once shed, can be immortalized on a canvas, resonating with others long after we are gone.

Farewell, Depression, Acrylic on Layered Paper, 15x22 inch, 2022 © Danzhu Hu

And where do you draw your inspiration for your work?

Stylistically, I draw inspiration primarily from nature, Art Nouveau ornaments, and atmospheric cinematography. Nature serves as my personal Pinterest board, and I like to convey emotions through the organic shapes derived from nature.
In terms of topics, I typically focus on my personal experiences and enjoy infusing my work with self-reflection. So, I'd consider my personal work as a visual journal, serving as a medium to contemplate, pose open-ended questions, and establish a deeper connection with my inner land.

Is there anything else you would like to experiment with, both in your work and your career?

Oh my, in terms of my work, there's so much I'd love to experiment with 3D, VR/AR, to name a few. I'm always curious about different media and ready to keep an open mind and be playful!
And in terms of my career, I'd love to work with more like-minded people and create something I can't do on my own!

And lastly, what are your future projects? Is there any you can share with our readers?

I'm currently learning 3D modeling, and I'm quite excited to see where it can take me! My MFA thesis was a mental health advocacy series based on my personal experiences, which turned out to be a rather cathartic and healing process for me. So, I'd love to expand my interests in mental health-related topics while experimenting with new media.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.

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