TEN THOUSAND DREAMS / by Mansuo Zhang

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." 
- Pablo Picasso

Being an artist or a designer is probably one of the hardest things in this world, yet only a few people know what an artist/designer has been through during the pursuit of their careers. It is almost a common sense that those who studying art/design receive a lot of prejudices from the outside world, either from their family, friends or from those who don't even know what art/design really is.

My family, a typical Asian family, with parents who have a huge doubt on me choosing art/design as my future career. I can't even remember how many times my mom tells me to study law and become a lawyer instead of being an artist/designer. In fact, such thing not just only happens to my family, but also all other families as well. All art/design kids have to go through a lot of shitloads to prove themselves. They are the kids who grow up in a harsh adversity. A friend of my mom used to tell my mom that studying art/design could be a risky thing, and I think most people would agree, they'd rather wish their kids to become a doctor, a businessman or a lawyer.

There is a definite disconnect between artist/designer and outside world. Only artists/designers themselves know how hard it takes them to get to their own places. However, a good artist/designer (or sometimes I call it "sensitive person") could get inspirations from such adversity.... at least, I do. 

Art/design is a powerful thing. It is even more powerful than any kind of the weapon in this world. It is the only thing that can be bigger than the universe. With that, no prejudice should stop oneself from being an artist/designer if he/she really aspires to be one.