My life journey is accompanied by the melody of music. I started learning violin when I was four years old and gained endless experiences and peace from it. During my studies at the Communication University of China for Recording Arts, both as an undergraduate and graduate student for six years, I immersed myself in recording equipment and sound production, and endeavored to create independent artworks like music, film, and other sound works that align with directors’ art visions.
I lived within my comfort zone for the last twenty years, which aligned with my personality. I cherish being with myself alone, and I can find a sense of safety and fulfillment from independent research and creation. I believe I can achieve belonging and relaxation in studios for work. In the beginning, I thought all of these would be enough. I would gain joy from art creation and bring my technical skills and positive attitude into collaboration. I might stay in a studio for ten years, sitting in front of the screens and devoting my full heart to it, which all sounds great. However, I found something was missing.
During my experience in Beijing 798 Art District, I witnessed how artists from different fields gather together and voice their sound through all kinds of activities and events. These obviously are bigger stages for artists to reach more audiences and attract more attention through their artistic expression. However, the experience also brought me unrest, as more communication and networking are needed. I knew that I needed change, the taste of the unknown.
The trust and love from my family and my friends motivated my desire to explore more and to see more of the world. Choosing to experience more possibilities and discover more of myself, I took the first step out of my comfort zone and decided to study abroad. In the summer of 2023, I came to Madison, Wisconsin, and became an international student of the Bolz Center, where I started to change myself from a sole artist into one who can use her knowledge and skills to help more artists. From here, I now have different views of art and am making new friends from different art fields. In addition, I really appreciate that I have the chance to be an audio engineer at PBS Wisconsin, where I can revisit my existing knowledge of sound production and learn more from talented people in the same field as mine.
After spending a half year in Madison, I am seeing many changes. I wish to explore more and excavate more potential capacity through new experiences. I want to be a person who can help more people discover the power of art. In this precious year, I long to open myself without limit, embrace everything the Bolz Center brings to me, and absorb the experience the life in Madison gives me.
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