A Shift in Perspective: From Conceptual Art to Creative Exploration with Nature and Self

BY ACCA

I, Shuyu Yao, never planned to become an artist. As a child, I became prematurely absorbed by overly profound questions—the meaning of existence. Yet, the absurdity of the new century has long since dissolved the grand narrative of "existence" into fragmented pieces, and the answers built up by words crumble to dust the moment they're touched, leaving only silent desolation deep within my heart.

In China, a child's time is highly structured. A sea of academic subjects floods the boundaries of childhood; mountains of exercises and relentless exams form the entire background noise of our lives. Amidst this enormous daily investment, the question "Why?" gradually outweighed the actions themselves. Every minute invested urgently required an anchor of meaning.

It was not until entering the University of the Arts London (UAL) that I truly began to think and create like an artist. The space provided here allowed me to systematically "investigate" the meaning of my own existence. When this seemingly abstract topic was seriously scrutinized under the microscope, those ordinary, easily overlooked everyday objects suddenly took on astonishing presence.

I began to spend long periods isolated in my studio, observing, and depicting the companions I had bought but neglected. With delicate pencil lines, heavy textures of oil paint, and rough charcoal strokes, I tried from numerous angles to capture their silent essence. This process reminded me of Giorgio Morandi's still lifes, which embody an Eastern Zen-like tranquility. However, unlike Morandi, who used objects to reflect an inner spiritual world, for me, the "act" of painting itself became a direct mirror of my inner fluctuations. Completed artworks were not endpoints, but rather coordinates marking my exploration. Through intense observation and repeated depiction, I delved into the depths of consciousness to touch those ineffable emotional folds—the meaning of art for me precisely lies in this journey of self-awareness.

Later, my brush turned to another form of life—animals, especially those that had lost their lives. I visited slaughterhouses, confronting bodies whose lives had ended. On my canvases, I juxtaposed pigs' heads and fish eyes with fragments of human bodies. What drove me was a primal, indescribable impulse—a necessity to capture the shocking tableau of life/death before my eyes.

However, I soon realized that my attempts to convey meaning through dense information and complex symbols only led to emptiness. Those carefully constructed "artificial meanings" ended up as empty conceptual exercises. This realization prompted me to leave the academic track of the Royal College of Art (RCA).

The turning point of fate was meeting Jiayi Dong, my current wife. She was researching child psychology and digital health at University College London (UCL). Facing cold screen data and algorithm models, she felt powerless. On my suggestion, she began exploring children’s art therapy.

When she described how children create in nature, her eyes sparkled. She said: "When children immerse themselves fully in nature, creating in the most authentic way, art truly reveals its profound healing power—not cold 'therapy', but a 'dialogue' with life." That moment struck me like lightning, lifting the fog: I needed to abandon my obsession with ultimate answers and engage in more practical actions—to participate, to connect.

By coincidence, invited by friends, I returned to Beijing and ventured into children’s art education. I quickly noticed that Chinese children lacked a direct, profound connection with nature. I guided them, sharing my experiences observing the world in different cultural contexts.

To my surprise, these small efforts created unexpected ripples, like stones thrown into the center of a lake. Later, I received letters from students I had taught in various countries, sharing how art had transformed their perception of the world. These echoes from afar flowed together like streams into a river, ultimately guiding me into the fertile ground of art education.

Today, Jiayi and I, Shuyu Yao, have rooted ourselves in Shanghai, jointly founding the Re:Art Art Education Institution. Our core vision is to reconnect children with nature, inner selves, and expression, and to reshape perceptions, understandings, and resilience of life through art. We aim to gather more global artists and educators, creating a supportive platform filled with understanding.

Through creative exploration, we hope to help children find their own voices and colors, fulfilling their unique and precious artistic pursuits. We believe art is not judgment, but listening; not teaching, but companionship. Our journey is just beginning, and we are excited to see the impact that art can have on the lives of children and communities around the world.

ISSUE 25 AVAILABLE

In this 25th edition of the ACCA Journal, we are honored to shine a spotlight on outstanding artists and entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. Read the Issue. Purchase the Issue.