In honor of MUSE's debut limited collection launch, showcasing '100 Rooms' by our New York-based artist Poyao Shih, we've had the privilege of sitting down for an interview with him. During our conversation, we explored how his journey from architectural studies to acclaimed designer has deeply influenced his creative vision, evident in his captivating artworks.
MUSE:
Hi Poyao! Your background in architecture is evident in your art. Can you share how studying architecture and practicing as an architect have influenced your artistic style and perspective?
Poyao:
Trained as an architect, my artwork creation inherently incorporates numerous architectural thinking. Neil Denari once mentioned to me that the innovation in his drawings always provides a ground relationship, and I think that has significantly influenced my approach. The genesis of my work consistently embodies the essence of spatial ideas; regardless it’s an architectural drawing or an abstract concept, it always encompasses aspects such as light and shadow, form, lines, and field.
MUSE:
What specific architectural concepts or structures serve as inspiration for your art, and how do you translate them into visual form?
Poyao:
My inspiration mostly comes from things in our everyday lives. It could be from nature, an object, or even a corner. I sometimes understand stuff without thinking about their actual scales. In other words, I envision things on different scales. For example, a component of a lamp could be a profile of a facade, and a ribbon could be the handrail of a staircase. This imaginative approach aids me in form-finding and generates design ideas.
MUSE:
"100 Rooms" stands out as a captivating addition to your portfolio. Could you provide us with insight into the inspiration behind this piece and the narrative it conveys to viewers?
Poyao:
I am always intrigued by how architecture can integrate into a field or landscape, not as a massive entity but as a series of smaller elements. I believe that the figure-ground diagram plays a crucial influence here. Initially advocated by Colin Row and Fred Koetter, this type of drawing employs patterns to allocate buildings and public spaces within the city. It helps our understanding of a city in an abstract manner.
The drawing conceptualizes a circular system, illustrating the process by which a single object generates subsequent iterations through multiple steps of articulation. It serves as a representation of how a field can be formed from a singular object. Ultimately, I envision these objects, presented as figures here, being interpreted as a series of rooms or spaces.
MUSE:
Where do you see your work featured within a home?
Poyao:
I imagine it would be on a big wall in a living room or bedroom that receives a tremendous amount of light.
MUSE:
Can you share some architects or artists that serve as your source of inspiration in architectural designs? / Who influences you the most?
Poyao:
Sol Lewitt / Isamu Noguchi / Herzog De Meuron / Morphosis / Oyler Wu Collaborative /Neil Denari
MUSE:
How do you envision your artworks, including "100 Rooms," enhancing and transforming the spaces they inhabit?
Poyao:
In our daily lives, we are constantly moving from one space to another—be it from one room to another, whether it's an open space or a small room. This piece of work incorporates numerous layers, creating diverse conditions between objects represented as solid, semi-solid, dashed, or lines. I hope the richness of the layers in this drawing inspires people to be aware of the abundance of the spaces they inhabit in every moment and the relationships between them.
MUSE:
Lastly, what does being a part of Muse Collab mean to you, and how do you envision your collaboration with us evolving in the future?
Poyao:
I have a personal affinity for artworks with a distinct architectural quality, extending beyond line drawings, renderings, or photography. Artworks by architects inherently possess this embedded sense. In this regard, I truly appreciate Muse Collab’s mission to showcase more works from architects to the world, and it has been a great pleasure to be part of it. I look forward to seeing more amazing works from the future collection.
Photo credit from Tommy Park @tombo.97
