Gan Zhuoan graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and his work, Gan, received a lot of media attention and coverage at his graduation exhibition. Originally from Panama, Zhuoan has been influenced by many different cultures and environments from a young age and has experienced many unspeakable things, which has led him to express himself through painting. In his paintings, figures in three languages are used to express his cultural background. There are tattoos and paintings as various elements of his life, hands and facial expressions that convey emotions and thoughts. He turns himself into a painting that tells stories about him to the world as he explores and learns about himself.
Gan Zhuoan毕业于中央美术学院, 他的毕业作品《Gan》在毕业展览上受到了媒体的广泛关注和报道。他来自巴拿马，从小就受到许多不同文化和环境的影响，也经历了许多无法言说的事情，这使得他通过绘画来表达自己。在他的画中，用三种语言的人物来表达他的文化背景，有纹身和绘画作为他生活的各种元素，有传达情感和思想的手和面部表情。他把自己变成了一幅画，在探索和了解自己的同时，向世界讲述关于他的故事。
Can you tell us about your work Gan? Why are there so many human forms?
你可以说说你的作品《甘》吗？为什么会有很多人的形态？
I think the various poses, movements and expressions of people are very expressive. The characters in the work are able to tell a story more strongly through their expressions and body language, which then gives the audience an intimate sense of carrying it.
我认为人的各种姿势，动态和表情很有表现力。作品里的人物通过表情和身体语言能够更强烈的说出一个故事，然后让观众有种亲切的带入感。
As a Panamanian-born Chinese, you may have different cultural symbols in you. How do they influence you and how are they reflected in your work?
作为一个巴拿马出生长大的中国人，你身上可能会有着不同的文化符号，这些符号如何影响着你并体现在作品中？
The symbols in the work, apart from enriching the images, are also elements and ideas from my life. These elements are things that I like or things that I have experienced.
作品里的符号除了让画面变得丰富也是我生活里的各种元素和想法。这些元素都是我喜欢的东西或者我经历过的事。
Your paintings all take life as a starting point. There are some bitter and confused emotions. Why did you want to do this style of work?
你的画中都是以生活为出发点，有一些到苦楚、迷茫的情绪，为什么会想进行这种创作风格？
This creation is also a series. It's sort of me telling the world where I come from and how I see the world. It's true that my view of the world can be a bit confusing and dark due to various experiences, but there are still various points of humour and happiness in the paintings. We all know that there is sweetness and bitterness in life anyway.
这次创作也是一个系列。算是我跟世界讲我从哪里来然后我怎么看这个世界。各种经历让我对这个世界的看法确实会有一些迷茫和黑暗，但是画中里还是能看到幽默和快乐的各种点。反正我们都知道生活中有甜也有苦。
Are these diverse cultural symbols in you advantageous under the Chinese art education system, and which ones specifically? Is China’s art school education system diverse and culturally inclusive?
你身上这些多元的文化符号是否在中国的艺术教育体系下是有优势的，具体是哪些？n中国的美院教育体系是否是多元化的，对文化的包容度如何？
In the past few years in China I have felt that fine art is becoming more and more diverse. However, I still feel that it is a relatively simple and not yet fully open state. So some of the symbols in my images may still seem unfamiliar or difficult to understand.
我这几年在中国感觉到艺术这方面越来越多元化。不过还是能感觉到是一个比较单纯和还没完全张开的一个状态。所以我画面的一些符号还是会看起来比较陌生或者不好理解。
How do you think this education system has influenced you or Chinese contemporary art, given the rigorous drawing exams required to enter the top art schools in China and the years of drawing practice students have had?
想要进入中国顶尖的艺术院校都要进行严格的绘画考试，这些学生都有着多年的绘画练习经历，你觉得这种教育体制对你或者中国当代艺术有着何种影响？
The impact is still huge. Everyone goes through an unconventional and rigorous system to get into university and sometimes you can feel like a robot. But I don't think this is a particularly big problem after all I still know a lot of very good and creative students. There are also those who have come through this type of training.
影响还是很大的。大家都是通过一个非常规和严格的系统考上一个大学，有时候会让人有一种机器人的感觉。不过我认为这个问题也不算特别大毕竟我还是认识到很多非常优秀和创造力很强的同学们。也是有通过这种训练方式来的。
How do you see the development of emerging artists in China?
你如何看待中国新兴艺术家的发展？
China is mainly a large population. It is a very challenging country. There are too many people studying art, but it doesn't mean that everyone who studies art will become an artist. Those who choose this path must be able to endure hardship. I think you have to persevere and then keep digging into your own creativity. At the same time, you have to make something different and more unique than others.
中国主要是人口众多。是一个很挑战人的国家。学艺术这个专业的人太多了, 不过也不是说明所有学艺术的都能变成艺术家。选择这条路的人肯定能吃苦。我认为还是得坚持，然后不停的挖掘自己的创作。同时，做出比别人不一样的，比别人更有特色的东西出来就可以了。
Many painters have been born under the Chinese art system. How have these factors contributed to the development of the Chinese art market? As an emerging artist, how do you see the development of the Chinese art market?
在中国的艺术系统下诞生了很多画家，这些因素是否推动了中国艺术市场的发展。作为一个新兴艺术家你如何看待中国艺术市场的发展？
I think the Chinese art market is still quite young and there is a lot to be explored, and people's tastes and interests change a lot every year. So I think that in the future, apart from painting, other media and ways of presenting works will become more and more popular. At the same time, painting will retain a sense of beauty and character. This kind of thing is not to be forgotten.
我认为中国艺术市场还算年轻，有很多东西还可以挖掘，人的品味还有兴趣每年都会有很多变化。所以我觉得以后除了绘画，别的媒介和作品的展示方式会越来越受欢迎。同时，绘画会保留了它的一种美感和特点。这种东西是不可忘的。
What are the challenges you face as an emerging artist? What goals do you have for your future artistic career?
作为一个新兴艺术家，你面临着怎样的挑战？你对自己未来的艺术生涯有着怎样的目标？
There will definitely be challenges. After all, creating a good piece of work is a complicated but enjoyable thing to do. I think about giving up when I'm not inspired or when I'm not happy with the work I've produced. The art profession is also mainly about perseverance and constant effort to discover your own style, flavour and direction. My ultimate goal is very close to these three points. To let the world know the language of my images and at the same time let them feel what I want to say, and finally to influence people who have dreams and ideas. To not stop growing and learning. To be my true self.
挑战肯定会有的。毕竟创作出好的作品是一个很复杂但是很愉快的事。一旦我没有灵感或者做出的作品不满意会想到放弃。艺术这个专业主要也是靠坚持和不停的努力去挖掘自己的风格，味道和方向。我最终目标和这三个点很贴近的。让世界知道我画面的语言，同时让他们感觉到我想说的话，最后影响有梦想、有想法的人。不停的成长，不停的学习。做好真正的自己。
Interviewer: WenQing Liang
Images courtesy of the artist, 2022.