Interview : Michael See Zheng Xun      

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Michael See Zheng Xun is only 25 and lives in Malaysia, near Kuala Lumpur where he works as a 3D Artists. Involved in the video game business, Michael produces an interesting colorful digital art influenced by passion and work. We invite you to discover Michael’s artwork and how he envisions his professional career.

IT’S ART Magazine : Could you talk about your artistic evolution ? Did you start by learning traditional painting? How has your work evolved?

Michael SEE Zheng Xun : I discovered my interest in art at a very young age, probably when I was toddler. It could be a genetic issue since my father is an artist himself working in a local newspaper company as a chief comic artist. I started to learn traditional painting during my first two years in college where I attended fine arts classes. They consisted in life and still life drawing and the experimentation of different mediums like charcoal, acrylic, oil on canvas, water colors and designer gouache. Digital art came later when I started to do conceptual rendering as I majored in digital animation. I had to design all the conceptual design (characters and background)which were later to be made into 3d renderings and animations. It was probably the first time I used Photoshop.

I.A. - Why have you chosen to mainly depict a fantasy universe?

M.S. – My artwork doesn’t only focus on fantasy. However my personal inclinations would go for a “semi fantasy” universe where things lie between fantasy and reality because for me the beauty of fantasy code elements exceeds any other pictorial world.

I.A. - Could you tell us more about your universe? What influences your art?

M.S. – Basically, I only paint when I’m inspired by something and it could be anything at all. Sometimes it’s just something I’ve come across and I think would make a beautiful illustration. My paintings usually focus on a character but I’ve started to develop an interest in creating environments and integrating characters in it. My artwork is mainly triggered by aesthetic sense.

I.A. – How do you think your cultural background appears in your work ?

M.S. - I don’t really think I’ve done much things in which my culture transpires. For a C.G. challenge I once did an illustration in which eastern elements (the paper lantern for instance) meet western ones.

I.A. - I really love some of your art like Insomnia and Waiting which are different from the fantasy work. I love how you manage to transmit feelings thanks to light and color. Can you comment?

M.S. - Insomnia and Waiting were based on something I have experienced. Since I don’t represent myself in the paintings and I like the beauty which emanates from women, I transpose myself into these feminine figures. I think light and colors are the most important elements to convey feelings and carry the viewer away.