Today we’d like to introduce you to James Ng.
James, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
When I was a kid, I imagined fantastical scenes in mind. I was desperate to show that to someone, but the only way I knew how was to put it on paper. That’s the main driving force for me in creating art, I want to share my vision. It is also why I’m never satisfied with my work; my drawing skills can’t really convey what I’m imagining. I’m unsure if it ever will be, but I do enjoy process of trying and improving.
When I decided to make art my career, I enrolled in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and then School of Visual Arts in New York. I’ve been a full time freelance artist since 2008, doing mainly concept art for games and movies, as well as book covers and comics.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m mostly known for my Steampunk illustration series “Imperial Steam & Light”. The idea behind the series based on the possibilities of a world where the Imperial Chinese were the first culture to have gone through an industrial revolution, changing the rest of history and technology as well as what we now consider as a model for a modern city.
I’m very interested in the Chinese Qing Dynasty and the modernization of non-European countries. Because Europe was the first to modernize due to the English industrial revolution, other countries around the globe have been playing catch up ever since. The standard of modernization is basically westernization, as the rest of the world becomes more modern, it also becomes more like the west. I began to wonder… what if another culture was the first to modernize during the turn of the last century, if China was the standard that other countries had to work towards, what would things look like today? Maybe skyscrapers would look like Chinese temples? Cars would look like carriages? Perhaps we can modernize without losing our own cultural identity, values, and history.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
(Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?) It’s a funny thing. Some of the best feedback I get is that when some people view my work, they say they learn a thing or two about Chinese culture. It’s great. But at the same time, I don’t believe my work makes my voice more important than anyone else’s.
Art used to be considered trade skill, just like carpentry, locksmithing and skills of other hard-working craftsmen. Somewhere along the way, art became viewed as something more prestigious and “high society” – something representative of the society of their time. Though I consider myself an artist, and this view might benefit me somewhat, I don’t agree with this perspective. I don’t think the voice of an artist should be treated as more important than anyone else’s, and art shouldn’t be considered any better or more authoritative than any other role in a functioning society. Everyone, regardless of job title, should strive to be a productive member of society, a good neighbor, and good friend.
Might be a strange answer to this question, but every time I get asked something similar about art and how it should affect a society, I just feel like art is more of a reflection of the artists themselves and what they take away from society and their own personal experiences. If there are people who identify with it, that’s great. But looking at the bigger picture, our output shouldn’t have so much sway over a society and the issues that arise.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m creating a comic book based in the “Imperial Steam & Light” world that I’ve built with my illustrations. The script is already done and I’m finally getting to the drawing. Anyone that’s interested, feel free to connect with me and see the latest updates as I roll out the book later this year! I’m working on the details for an exhibition in October in Seattle, but not confirmed yet. In the meantime, anyone interested can find me at JamesNgArt.com I’m also on various social media @jamesngart.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://JamesNgArt.com
- Email: jamesngart@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesngart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamesngart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesNgArt
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
