10 Questions with Ryan Muchen Wang
Al-Tiba9 Art Magazine ISSUE13 | Featured Artist
Ryan Muchen Wang is a visual artist and filmmaker based in New York. He received his MFA in Visual Arts from Columbia University. Ryan Wang's video and installation work have been exhibited in galleries and museums such as Half Gallery, ZAZ Time Square, and Jewish Museum. In addition, he has taught film and video at institutions such as Columbia University and Syracuse University.
Ryan Muchen Wang - Portrait
ARTIST STATEMENT
His film and video work often use a mixture of fiction, documentary, and experimental genres to examine place, displacement, and the issue of memory. His recent video and installation also examine and construct different kinds of storytelling and visual narratives. Many of his moving image work embraces the avant-garde and essayistic modes of fiction and non-fiction cinema.
To You, Video, 2022 © Ryan Muchen Wang
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INTERVIEW
First of all, let's talk about yourself. How did you start getting interested in art?
I was studying anthropology at UC-Irvine during my freshman and sophomore year. It wasn't until I took some classes in art history and filmmaking that I became interested in video art and experimental film. In my fourth year of college, I traveled to Nepal to create a documentary about a local farm. This experience made me want to continue working in art and film. Then I applied to graduate school and was accepted into the visual arts MFA program at Columbia University, where I learned more about contemporary art and expanded my knowledge.
Do you remember when you realized you wanted to be an artist?
It's hard to say there was a specific moment when I realized I wanted to become an artist. Rather, it was a gradual process of self-exploration. As I continued to make work, I found myself experiencing more joy and fulfillment in the process.
I Once Saw a Time Traveler (Film Still), Video, 2023 © Ryan Muchen Wang
To You (Film Still), Video, 2022 © Ryan Muchen Wang
Despite your young age, you already have a significant career, with many exhibitions and several experiences teaching in art schools and prestigious colleges. What was the most formative experience as an artist so far?
All of my experiences, from exhibiting my work to teaching, have contributed to my growth as an artist in various ways. The opportunities to collaborate with other artists help me a lot as well. Through these collaborations, I have gained invaluable experience, received valuable feedback and critiques, and found inspiration from other artists working in different mediums, such as painting and sculpture. These experiences have helped me think about my art practice in new and different ways.
You work primarily with video and installations. How did you choose these mediums specifically? And what do they represent for you?
I initially worked a lot with documentary filming, but over time, I became interested in blurring the boundaries between genres in film and video. This inspired me to explore mixing elements in fiction, documentary, and experimental film. While studying at Columbia, I found inspiration from paintings and sculptures, which led me to consider the space in which video work was shown and how to incorporate the space into the artwork itself. I want to be creative about it. Each medium is interconnected, and similar ideas can be explored in different mediums. I'm drawn to interdisciplinary practice.
How do you differentiate your work depending on the medium you choose to use? Do you approach different themes with different media?
Video is my primary medium. At the beginning, I don't necessarily think about how the video will be shown or displayed. I want to focus on creating the video itself. After the video is completed, I often create two different edits: one as a single-channel piece and the other for installations in gallery spaces.
To You, Installation in Time Square, New York © Ryan Muchen Wang
On a Usual Night, Installation at Lenfest © Ryan Muchen Wang
Your work deals with "place, displacement, and the contradictory nature of memory," as you mention in your statement. Where do you get inspiration from? And how do you work on these ideas to incorporate them into your work?
My inspiration comes from personal narratives, literature, and paintings. As someone who has moved around a lot, I often feel like an outsider in different places and cultures. I'm drawn to the stories of travelers and their experiences. During my undergraduate studies, I learned about the concept of "non-place" from the French anthropologist Marc Auge. He describes transitory places, such as airports, train stations, and hotel rooms, as non-places. I'm interested in exploring the stories and emotions that exist within these types of spaces.
Your works mainly focus on the storytelling process, mixing fiction, documentary, and experimental genres. What messages do you want to convey with your work?
Different work often explores different subjects. I'm particularly interested in portraying travelers as characters and exploring their experiences. I try not to think about genres when writing stories or filming, and I find it interesting when different elements start to mix together. For me, I think it's important to focus on the story first and then think about the form.
I Once Saw a Time Traveler - Installation at Lenfest, Video, 2023 © Ryan Muchen Wang
Is there any other medium or technique you would like to experiment with or incorporate in your work?
I did a claymation before. I plan to make a new stop-motion animation with clay incorporating live-action footage and CGI.
What are you working on now? Do you have any new projects or exhibitions you want to share with our readers?
I'm currently working on a video that will show at Jewish Museum in May as a response to their current show.
And finally, how would you describe Ryan Muchen Wang in three words?
Artist, Filmmaker, Writer
