Hushed Noise’s 10: Nan Zhu on Absurdism, Compassion, and the Practice of Vulnerability

07 Mar 2025

Nan Zhu is a multidisciplinary artist whose work navigates absurdism, compassion, and collective consciousness. Blending surreal imagery with poetic reflections, her practice addresses vulnerability and the quiet act of caring for others in a fragmented world. Through metaphor, performance, and storytelling, Nan creates emotional landscapes that explore the tension between societal expectations and personal authenticity. In this conversation, she shares her creative journey, her thoughts on failure, and how she uses art to reimagine human connection.

Hushed Noise: Can you share a bit about your artistic journey? What inspired you to start creating?

Nan Zhu: I have always been into the absurd realm since early days. I like fairytales, I not only want to read about fairytales but also want to create and experience fairytales irl. I may describe myself having a natural desire to express through metaphorical means - straightforwardness was neither quite right nor enough.

When I entered high school, I felt the urge to secure a place to study art more than any other subject, so I did. I was lucky to be in art institutions with tutors and peers who were genuinely supportive and encouraged me to explore and experiment without fears.

Hushed Noise: How does your cultural background or personal experiences influence your work?

Nan Zhu: I don’t feel influenced by cultural background as much as my personal experience. I grew up spending a lot of time spacing out, contemplating, observing environment and interactions within the environment. As hatred and division has taken over our ability to care and connect as human beings with each other, I feel the importance to re-practice compassion. It can often be easily overlooked in our day to day. And that is often the core of my work - practicing compassion through experiencing collective consciousness right here and now.

Hushed Noise: Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you develop an idea into a finished piece?

Nan Zhu: Ideas flash through as imagery in my head, for instance - it was once butterflies burning on my head, another time it was a spider with human limbs covered in tropical fruits. I note them down as they appear, spend time with the imagery. I then create a story from this moment, whatever that makes sense to me emotionally, philosophically, wholesomely.

Hushed Noise: What themes or messages do you explore in your art, and why do they resonate with you?

Nan Zhu: Under the umbrella of practicing collective compassion, I practice pain and vulnerability in my art, do so through romantic and poetic means. I want to neutralise some existing terms that are used to label the qualities of things.

Growing up under the pressure of ‘being better’, I have learnt to allow myself to fail, to break, to be hurt, to take time, to make mistakes, and I’ve learnt to appreciate these seemingly negative circumstances as they are, neutralising the societal impression of good and bad. My artistic practice and my living are intertwined, I deliver my understanding of how we could live through my personal experience.

Hushed Noise: What challenges do you face as an emerging artist, and how do you navigate them?

Nan Zhu: I feel challenged to be a fine art artist. Socialisation, commodification, promotion… many qualities that lead towards a success which I do not favour. I navigate them through sincerity. I stay true to myself and my creation, care for my surroundings.

Hushed Noise: Are there any artists, movements, or experiences that have deeply influenced your work?

Nan Zhu: I admire Francis Alÿs for his social-geo-political work, Bas Jan Ader for pathetic romance, Daniel Kharms for absurdism. Other than that, it was the 1970s Marina Abramović and Greek physical theatre director performer Dimitri Papaioannou who opened up the door for me to a whole new world.

Hushed Noise: How do you see your art evolving in the next few years?

Nan Zhu: I hope to do my part to de-marginalise performance art and make it more accessible, so I hope in a few years time my art will be comfortably engaging with non-art audience, and making positive impact on local communities.

Hushed Noise: What’s a recent project or piece that you’re particularly proud of, and why?

Nan Zhu: I never have felt proud of my work, but they have all been invaluable experience that helped me to reflect and improve, to understand myself better.

Hushed Noise: What role do you think social media and digital platforms play in shaping the opportunities for emerging artists today?

Nan Zhu: Social media and digital platforms are sharp double-edged swords. We heavily rely on them to exchange information, announce our career updates, find open calls and art opportunities, but from time to time inevitably get caught in the whirlpool of wannabe attention grabbing vogue. In my opinion, it is important to stay wary.

Hushed Noise: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Nan Zhu: I would quite like to replace Ulay’s role of their many years of collaboration with Marina Abramović. I would quite like to experience the bold passionate dedication and trust in between two human beings.

Follow Nan Zhu’s work on Instagram at @zhvu.naen. For inquiries, contact Nan at naenzhvu@outlook.com.

Edited by Xeni R. Quine

Images by Nan Zhu