Reconnected Outsiders is a dynamic collective of five artists—Amo (Mengying), Yichen, Tianying, Weixian, and Constance—bringing together diverse backgrounds in Fine Arts, Architecture, Computational Design, Computer Science, and Law. We formed this collective out of a shared struggle to navigate complex immigration systems while building our identities in foreign countries. With an interdisciplinary approach, we aim to raise awareness of these issues, express ourselves, and foster dialogue through art.

Can you share a bit about your background and how you began your artistic journey?

Amo (Mengying): My path began at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a focus on Art and Technology Studies. I was particularly drawn to the technological aspects of art creation, which led me to pursue a Master’s in Computer Science to build a stronger technical foundation for my digital art practice. What fascinates me most is projection art and its innovative possibilities. I’m especially intrigued by how projected content can transform and interact with different surfaces – from the human body to books and ceramics. This medium allows me to explore new forms of digital expression and push the boundaries of how we experience art through technology.

Yichen: With a background in architecture and design, I have always been adjacent to the art world—creating drawings, paintings, and physical artifacts—but with the mindset of ‘solving problems’ rather than ‘asking questions.’ My true artistic journey began two years ago when I met Amo. At the time, I was experiencing burnout from my job and struggling with my sense of identity. Amo inspired me to see creation not just as a professional skill but as a powerful outlet for processing emotions, uncertainties, and conflicts. Since then, we have collaborated on a wide range of projects—first on digital artworks using Blender and three.js, and later incorporating projection and ceramics—all of which center around themes of identity and immigration. Though I haven’t received formal training as an artist, I am grateful to have found a way to leverage my design skills outside of work, and that art-making has become my voice.

Tianying: I have loved drawing and crafting since childhood, and my passion for art continued as I pursued a career in architecture and real estate. I have primarily created using traditional media, but after joining Reconnected Outsiders, I began exploring new techniques with the help of other members’ tech skills. Experimenting with different materials and media has allowed me to constantly evolve as an artist. I have always had a wild imagination, and thanks to the team’s effort, I can now bring those ideas to life in ways I never could before. In addition to my pursuits as part of a collective, I am also an illustrator, with my recent book Mystic Joy: 500 Years of History in a Puff of Smoke reflecting my interest in storytelling through visuals.

Constance: I’ve been exploring different drawing styles since childhood, continuously evolving my artistic skills over decades. Even after starting my career as a developer, I’ve remained committed to creating my own artwork. Co-founding Womenoverseas, a Chinese-speaking female and non-binary community, further deepened my artistic journey—I’ve hosted numerous online art sessions and events, fostering creative exchange and collaboration. This blend of personal practice, community engagement, and a tech background keeps me inspired to explore new artistic expressions.

What keeps you inspired and motivated to create new work?

Amo (Mengying): I’m deeply inspired by observing how people interact with everyday objects in their lives. What motivates me is the opportunity to challenge these familiar relationships by presenting them through a different lens using digital art and projection. For example, when I project digital content onto ordinary objects like books or ceramics, it creates an entirely new context that makes viewers question and reconsider their relationship with these common items.

Constance: My inspiration comes from a mix of personal experiences, artistic interactions, and everyday observations. Drawing itself is a constant source of motivation—it’s both an outlet and a way to refine my skills. The act of creating, even in small sketches, helps me stay engaged and pushes me to experiment with new ideas. Conversations with peer artists also play a huge role in keeping me inspired. Exchanging ideas, discussing creative struggles, and seeing how others approach their work often sparks fresh perspectives. Lastly, I find motivation in simply appreciating the beauty of daily life. Small moments—like the way light hits a surface, an interesting texture on a building, or an expression on someone’s face—can spark new artistic ideas. Training myself to observe and appreciate these details keeps my creativity alive and ensures I always have something new to explore in my work.

How has your artistic style evolved over time?

Amo (Mengying): It has been shaped by two fascinating parallel paths. Conceptually, I embrace serendipity and unexpected discoveries – whether it’s an intriguing glitch in my code, a thought-provoking conversation with friends, or an unplanned technical accident. These spontaneous moments often lead to the most interesting artistic breakthroughs and help my work evolve in unexpected directions. On the technical side, I’m constantly working to make my digital art systems more stable, modular, and reusable – some geeky habit as a full-time software engineer.

Yichen: My artistic style is directly influenced by the medium I work with, which is constantly evolving. I often explore different mediums to express the same concept and observe how they influence each other, leading to new creative directions. For example, when I began creating digital art—renderings and animations—my work typically had a minimalist surrealism with a soft, pastel aesthetic. I then integrated text animations into these 3D scenes and objects, which later evolved into text-based projection arts. Now, working extensively with ceramics, I have revisited this approach by engraving similar textual elements onto physical objects. I’m excited to see how my work continues to evolve through this multi-media approach and whether I can develop a more defined artistic style from it.

What do you find most rewarding about being creative?

Amo (Mengying): Is that ‘aha’ moment when the presentation of an idea clicks perfectly into place. There’s something magical about achieving such clarity in digital art that viewers can instantly connect with the work without needing to read an artist statement or explanation. It’s like creating a visual language that communicates directly and intuitively.

Yichen: Being creative allows me to express intangible thoughts and emotions in a visual form. Whether digitally or physically, creating things has become a core part of my identity. Every year, I love looking back at the creative projects I’ve completed or attempted, because they serve as footprints of my journey through the year.

Tianying: When I was little, my family took pictures of me, and flipping through those albums always brought memories back to life so vividly. However, I’ve never liked being photographed myself, so I found other ways to preserve my experiences—primarily through my art journals, which I’ve been keeping for almost a decade. For me, the most rewarding part of being creative is knowing that my work serves as a record of my existence. When future generations—or even future humans—decipher my journals, they’ll know that I lived.

What challenges have you faced as an artist, and how have you overcome them?

Amo (Mengying): A particularly challenging period in my artistic journey involved visa restrictions that affected not just me, but many of my fellow international artists. There was a time when we couldn’t accept stipends or grants from art organizations due to our visa status, even when our work was selected for recognition. This created a unique paradox where opportunities were available, but immigration regulations prevented us from fully participating in the art community.

Tianying: One of my biggest challenges as an artist is that my ideas often grow into large-scale projects. Ideally, I would fully commit to bringing them to life, but balancing my day job—and the visa status that depends on it—makes that difficult. Over time, this limitation sometimes causes me to lose momentum in creating. To overcome this, I make a conscious effort to record my ideas through descriptions or sketches, ensuring they are preserved rather than forgotten. This way, even if I can’t execute them immediately, I have a foundation to build upon when the time is right.

Constance: Balancing a career as a developer with artistic pursuits presents unique challenges, particularly in managing time and mental energy effectively. One of the biggest hurdles has been finding a way to nurture creativity while meeting the demands of a structured, logic-driven profession. Since software development often requires deep focus and problem-solving, shifting into an artistic mindset can be difficult, especially after long work hours. To overcome this, I’ve leveraged my break times to engage in artistic work, using short creative sessions to maintain momentum. Even though these time slots are limited, they provide a necessary creative outlet without disrupting my primary responsibilities.

What advice would you give to emerging artists looking to establish themselves?

Amo (Mengying): I am still an emerging artist so I am not sure I can give any legit advice. But one thing I’ve learned is that consistent, strategic action is key to development. One practical approach that has significantly helped me is maintaining a structured schedule of opportunities – tracking deadlines for open calls, residencies, and exhibitions, and treating them as concrete milestones for creation.

Yichen: Finding a community of like-minded people has been a huge booster for me. I always feel more inspired and motivated after bouncing ideas around with friends. Another concept I love is the ‘CV of Failure.’ I’ve been keeping my own, documenting abandoned projects, rejected grants, and failed submissions. It helps me overcome the fear of failure and motivates me to keep trying.

Text & photo courtesy of Reconnected Outsiders

Website: https://reconnected-outsiders.cargo.site/
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