Today we’d like to introduce you to Jiabao Sun.
Hi Jiabao, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a family which is full of art. My grandfather was an architect, my uncle is a photographer, and my mom is an interior designer. Not to mention that they have a tremendous explicit impact on me, but they all have a subtle influence on me. After receiving my Bachelor of Arts degree in photography in my hometown, the dean of the photography department recommended and encouraged me to come to the United States to continue my master’s degree in photography. It turned out to be a perfect recommendation. I met the best professors and the most competitive peers during my master’s program. I learned to make alternative photographic processes that I had never experienced before, which inspired me to create more works. In the two and a half years of my master’s program, I gained a lot of photographic knowledge and many more important things. Like I learned how to plan better a new project, the importance of the project’s proposal and artist statement, how to better art criticism, how to use skills to practice aesthetics, and so on. I grew up as an introvert, and the language barriers often led me to simplify my expressions, which allowed me to find an outlet in my artistic creation. Art comes from life and helps to record and release my emotions.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can’t say that the art road I’ve traveled has been arduous and bumpy. I know that people are harder working than me and more diligent than me. I feel fortunate. In college, I met my dean, Dalang Shao, a very knowledgeable black-and-white photographer, and a very polite professor. He showed me the way to study art. After that, I met the teacher who guided me to make the portfolio, Jianyong Yuan. He graduated from the University of the Arts London and led me to know many foreign iconic photographers for the first time. After entering my master’s program, I met five professors with outstanding achievements in their fields, Michael James O’Brien, Elizabeth Turk, Suellen Parker, Sandra-Lee Phipps, and Forest McMullin. With their teaching and encouragement, I can say that I have embarked on my artistic path.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I have matured, though, my emotions can no longer be concealed. As my emotions accumulated, I realized that I had tolerated them for a long time. There are dialogues in my mind has become more transparent and are no longer blurred. I feel I am gradually being covered by a black haze. Feelings and emotions have formed continuous waves hitting me under the action of time, and every hit has awakened me more to my own identity.
My work continually explores the variability and ambiguity of emotions and personal feelings. My artistic expression is not limited to form. Using photography, alternative photographic processes, and poetry to visualize the thoughts and dialogues inside me.
I’d love to share a quote that I like, which also profoundly affected me and my work:
“The more specific you are, the more general it’ll be.” – Diane Arbus.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I have been a fortunate person, and I’ve always thought I’m never short of luck. Luck was reflected at every stage of my life. I don’t think fortune is to win the lottery. Fortune is that the people who stay with me over time are my favorite people and know me best, luck is that I always meet people who are willing to help me, fortune is that my mom is also my friend, and fortune is that I have the best other half and my colleagues. One day, my mother told me that my luck was proportional to my efforts. How I conduct myself has brought me luck. Similarly, my hard work and diligence in creating have brought me luck.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunjiabao.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonniesun_/?hl=en
Image Credits
Jiabao Sun
