Today we’d like to introduce you to Yaxin (Ashling) Tu.
Yaxin (Ashling), we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I first discovered my interest in art at a very young age. My parents were absent for most of my childhood, so I simply expressed my thoughts and feelings with paper and a pen, even before I learned how to write properly. Even today, I still value art as the most universal language. I grew up drawing: I portrayed my feelings and observations through my art. At the age of 14, I moved to the US for high school. It was then that I began to realize how much I enjoyed art and how much more I could achieve with my talent. Cameras can never capture the exact sunlight I feel or the kindness around me. This led me to start documenting my life and surroundings again, using digital tools.
North Carolina boasts the greenest trees and the finest Southern BBQs. With the support of my friends and high school teachers, I was fortunate enough to study illustration in Baltimore, Maryland for college. I relish traveling and the opportunity to live and experience different places. After graduation, I relocated to California for its cacti and beach vibes. It seems that each time I move to a new city, my art comes alive a bit more. Being a freelance artist makes me free from location constraints. I get a chance to communicate globally with my clients, learning different cultures while making art, and moving wherever to experience a different vibe. My next stop is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I will pursue my Master’s degree at Carnegie Mellon for interactive art. I am looking forward to my new journey and to where the path will lead me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life is never an easy story for any of us. My desire to travel around the world actually originated from my early disability. I had issues with my legs since middle school, and it was always tough for me. I couldn’t run or participate in sports like the others, and I underwent multiple surgeries throughout college to regain the use of my legs. A friend once said to me, “You’re all good, since you make a living through art, you can just be in a wheelchair and stay home all the time.” This experience has had a profound impact on my future plans.
After a whole year of physical therapy, I am now able to function like a normal person. I am grateful to be able to move around again and I don’t want to squander this opportunity. We only get to live once, and I want to see more with my own eyes and walk on my own legs.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I don’t consider myself different from those who don’t label themselves as “artists.” Instead, I utilize my artistic skills to communicate and connect with viewers. After relocating to the US and leaving behind my family, friends, and the familiar culture, I dedicated more time to observing differences and identifying “common ground” within diverse aspects of human societies across various cultures.
I take great pride in my unique approach to art. Rather than confining myself to a single area as an illustrator, I’ve chosen to embark on a more unfettered artistic journey. I recall one of my professors once asking, “Why not explore everything?” This perspective has significantly influenced my career path. Amidst the years of the pandemic, I devoted myself to my thesis illustration project, “Between Here & Now,” alongside my solo 3D sculpture exhibition, “Soft Corner.” Both projects aimed to radiate vibrancy and joy, serving as reminders of life’s precious moments and rediscovering our tender aspects.
I firmly believe that illustrators need not be confined to two-dimensional spaces alone. The same emotions and sensations can be conveyed through both 2D and 3D mediums.
In addition to my artistic endeavors, I have actively participated and achieved recognition in international illustration competitions, including prestigious events such as 3×3, JIA, and Ijungle, where I have proudly secured prizes.
How do you think about luck?
The years of Covid-19 have had a significant impact on my art goals. As an individual originally from China, I experienced a separation from my family for over three years. This ordeal made me realize the importance of psychological well-being.
During that period, many individuals grappled with mental health challenges and anxieties due to the pandemic, separations, and loss of life. People around the world were continuously fighting for their families and the well-being of society. Some of my friends and I were confined to our apartment, attending classes through Zoom. I consistently offered assistance to help alleviate stress for those I knew, which, unknowingly, also found its way into my work.
Towards the conclusion of the pandemic year, I organized a gallery exhibition featuring both my 2D and 3D artworks, with the intention of providing stress relief and mental therapy. The exhibition achieved success, and I found gratification in the small contributions I could make to brighten someone’s day. I am eager to use any additional resources to further explore subjects related to mental health and aid in preventing excessive stress. I concur that posing critical questions and self-reflection within society is imperative. Nonetheless, a positive mindset is essential to drive meaningful changes.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.ashlingtu.com
- Instagram: @ashlingtu_art
- Linkedin: @ashlingtu
