Artist Lu Yiying: An Explorer of Cross-Cultural Creation and Emotional Expression

Lu Yiying is an artist who transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, and her creative journey is filled with diverse elements. Born in Shanghai, she was educated in Sydney and London, eventually finding her creative space in San Francisco. Lu Yiying's works reflect her unique ability to communicate, blending the essence of Eastern and Western cultures.

Lu Yiying is known for her iconic "Failed Whale" illustration. Originally titled "The Dreamer Uplifted," it depicts a white whale being hoisted by eight orange birds with ropes. This symbolically rich artwork expresses the emotional weight of distance and the longing for close loved ones. Early internet users strongly resonated with this whale, garnering widespread fan support.

In 2016, Lu Yiying noticed the lack of a dumpling emoji, so she began advocating for its addition. In the following year, she designed five food-related emojis, including the beloved dumpling 🥟, bubble tea 🧋, chopsticks 🥢, takeout box 🥡, and fortune cookie 🥠. In 2018, she also designed a peacock emoji 🦚.

When NFTs rose to prominence in 2021, Lu Yiying also participated by releasing limited edition and unique NFT works on multiple platforms. She stated that the proceeds from the "Whale of a Time" series were donated to marine conservation organizations.

After three years of accumulation, Lu Yiying is preparing to launch an anticipated new NFT series. This upcoming work is part of an event that will delve into human experiences and emotions, and may pay tribute to her iconic whale image.

Lu Yiying believes that growing up in a culture where Chinese characters are the written language has had a profound impact on her artistic creation. She points out that the differences in language structure between the East and the West influence people's ways of thinking. For example, Latin languages like English have a more rigorous and linear structure, while Eastern languages like Chinese rely more on context. This linguistic difference is also reflected in the way children describe visual stimuli.

When talking about her upcoming new works, Lu Yiying expressed her hope that her creations can bring joy and emotional connections to the audience. She believes that colors and shapes have healing power and hopes her art can bring a sense of ease to people. She has a particular fondness for water and animals, especially whales, and the concept of the "ocean of emotions" deeply attracts her.

Lu Yiying emphasized that artists play an important role in guiding conversations about mental health. She believes that being an artist is an honor and that one should create works that can truly help others. She hopes to convey meaningful messages through her art to enhance people's emotional states.

Lu Yiying's creative philosophy has remained consistent, from her early work "Failed Whale" to her new pieces, as she is dedicated to transforming seemingly unpleasant things into uplifting elements. Her art not only reflects her own cross-cultural experiences but also symbolizes the shared journey of all individuals as emotional experiencers and dreamers.