Meet Hui Zhang | Multi-media Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hui Zhang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hui, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since childhood, I’ve been deeply passionate about painting and music. Although I explored other disciplines during my growth, I was inevitably drawn back to creative pursuits. For me, artistic creation satisfies a fundamental need for life reflection and self-expression, while helping me achieve self-fulfillment, a profound sense of purpose I never experienced when venturing into other domains. Moreover, art guides me to approach unexplored directions with broader perspectives, and this cross-disciplinary integration continually brings me the joy of personal growth.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My practice revolves around sound and multimedia, exploring the intersection of the mundane and the mythological. I excavate overlooked soundscapes and repurpose found objects to reveal the silenced narratives buried in urban transformation.

What excites me most is alchemizing the ordinary into the extraordinary—unearthing hidden magic in the banal, like discovering two kindred spirits in casual conversation and amplifying their connection. The process is inherently challenging, yet that’s precisely why I’m drawn to it: I must confront both my inner self and external subjects to achieve results that resonate. Truths often emerge only after exhausting deliberation—those ‘eureka’ moments born from accumulated friction are my most cherished rewards. Then begins the real work: becoming the faithful executor of my mind’s revelations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d like to take my friend to explore some old neighborhoods—urban ruins and abandoned sites too, if they’re willing. I’m not drawn to the polished, glamorous side of the city. Instead, I want to witness its fading edges—not necessarily dark or eerie places, but spots pulsing with raw, uncurated life. These corners feel closer to ordinary people’s realities, yet they’re vanishing at alarming speed in our rapidly transforming cities. One day, they might simply be gone without warning.

What I call the ‘shadow side’ holds countless vanishing details worth preserving—cracked walls bearing decades of weather stains, makeshift shops operating out of condemned buildings, the stubborn persistence of daily routines in forgotten spaces. There’s a quiet poetry in these fragile, disappearing worlds.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people and things have supported me along the way – my family, like-minded friends, collaborative partners, and those who’ve connected with me across time and space through their works and ideas. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, their existence becomes my anchor. While ultimately I must navigate these moments myself, their support remains undeniable. Countless artworks and concepts I admire have also sustained me spiritually, offering direction when I’m lost.

Other: Everything is still under adjustment so I’ll skip the reveal this time.

Image Credits
Hui Zhang