Meet Hanyu Mu | Illustrator Animator

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

Hi Hanyu, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
The truth is that I am a person who has no idea of balance, or I may have a strange understanding of balance. Actually, I’m a procrastinator and I can’t do what many people do to follow a plan for my life and work. I admire people who have a schedule because a plan makes everything simple and implementable. Many important decisions in my life have been random, such as choosing a major or studying abroad. I started painting at some point in my life, and as time went on, I painted more and more, which led me to choose a major in that direction. Being spontaneous is not a bad thing, but it’s not a good habit either. As an adult, this personality has created many challenges for me. The lack of decisive action made my academic process and future planning very slow and difficult. I always had wild plans that didn’t turn out to be as simple as I thought they would be. I often failed to do anything halfway. I started to face these problems, so I had to change myself. I started to learn how to control my life in small ways. I would force myself to do regular things like cleaning, exercising, etc. Let this cycle break the unplanned and irregular habits in my life. I would also observe my friends who were organized and learn how others organized and balanced themselves. Focusing only on short-term goals keeps me fulfilled and motivated, rather than draining my energy on unattainable plans. After letting go of unrealistic fantasies and self-torture, I think I have gradually found some balance, a balance between what I can do and what I want to do. The balance for me is not how well I do everything, but a balance between who I am now and who I was in the past. 28-year-old me has three more years to live than 25-year-old me, so what has changed between those three years is something I have to think about and care about. Even though I still face a lot of pressure and challenges, I know that I will still be rewarded by doing as much as I can every day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I used to like to make quick sketches to record my inspiration, and the messy lines usually give a sense of richness to the picture. But in a complete painting I obviously often don’t know how to go into detail. My drawings either looked unfinished without detail or had too much detail without rhythm and focus. Through constant practice, I feel things are getting better. At least my work is changing again for the better. I observed a lot of work and learned how to control the value and the rhythm of the picture. I am proud that my efforts translate into visible changes that make me understand that I am changing.

As for the challenges, I think for me it’s the use of the software at the moment. The use of the software is really widespread nowadays, and there is no doubt that digital art is developing like crazy, with not only drawing software but also 3D technology and so on being heavily used in illustration and animation design. Every time I see a new method appear on the web, I am surprised and distressed. There is so much software to learn that just getting started with the software will immediately appear with new techniques. But it is important to focus on the moment, isn’t it? At least these phenomena mean that digital art has become more whimsical and presentable.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My friends and I often go to Piedmont Park and find an afternoon to chat or play volleyball on the grass. You’ll see all kinds of people enjoying their afternoons here, and it’s a great place to relax. Sometimes there are various events such as fairs or shows. There are also many cute dogs or other small animals.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all, it is definitely my parents, who have given me unlimited support and love, both in material and spiritual aspects. If I were a bird looking for its goal in the sky, my parents would be the vast and warm earth, providing me with a place to rest at any time so that I can replenish my energy and set sail again. They have never spared me the opportunity to show their love, they have taught me how to love and care for myself and cherish my friends while providing me with more opportunities to choose the life I want.

I also love my friends and thank them for their love and patience. As an international student even though I left my hometown to start a new life in a foreign country, facing difficulties and differences, I never felt lonely. We are not the best in life or career, and the comparison with others always makes me lose myself, although I know it is meaningless to compare but many times the comparison comes in an unconscious state. It is my friends who make me realize that I am a unique individual and that everyone is unique. They make me feel proud of myself and I also feel proud of them.

I would also like to thank my professors and the great works that gave me the inspiration to grow in my creativity and show me more of my possibilities.

Website: www.hanyumu.com

Instagram: @ hany_umu

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanyu-mu-ab757b21a/