Talks - Mingyue Luna Chen

:iidrr Interview
with Mingyue Luna Chen

September 2024
Editor: Kaylee Zhao

Mingyue Luna Chen

instagram @lunaaa.avatar @lunaaa.studio

website: lunaaa.studio

Chen Mingyue is an artist and creative director based in New York and Los Angeles. She is passionate about the intersection of Art & Game. In 2023, she founded her Game Studio Lunaaa.Studio in New York. She pursued her art higher education at Interactive Media Arts in NYU Tisch (BFA) and Art and Technology in CalArts (MFA).

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in running Lunaaa studio, and how have you overcome them?

Luna Chen: I think the biggest challenge is to negotiate with people outside of the field. We are at the very niche spot where art, tech, and games converge. During the events, we meet professionals from all different areas and have to show our unique representation in the specialty while bringing outside interest into the focus.

How do you approach collaboration within the studio? Are there any memorable or transformative projects that came from collective efforts?

LC: Usually, the project is initiated from random chatting with close friends. After finding out the thought is workable and has the potential to reach commercial clients and factories, we will make a plan to make it come true. For instance, Fortune Teller Paige Cat is a location-based, Inflatable Installation AI project collaborated with cybersecurity engineer Jerry.

What strategies do you use to stay innovative and ahead of trends in the art world, particularly in a rapidly changing landscape?

LC: I keep my eyes sharp by carefully observing and examining emerging technology and building my theory based on actual project-making.

What core philosophies or themes guide your artistic direction at Lunaaa studio, and how have they evolved?

LC: Follow your gut……I have to say. Be bold and brave. Spread peace and love to this ever-changing world in this chaotic period after global pandemic.

How does your personal experience shape the work produced at Lunaaa.Studio, and how do you balance individual expression with broader artistic trends?

LC: Nice question! I come from a background of study in interactive media arts and several years of working experience in the art industry. Lunaaa.Studio is something that came out right after my graduation. I separate my art job from Lunaaa.Studio. This is more like a creative & commercial job for me right now. I believe that my individual expression as an artist and creative projects in Lunaaa.Studio are both nourishing my practice.

Can you describe a specific project at Lunaaa.Studio that exemplifies your vision of blending art and game design?

LC: Sure~ Recently, we participated in the China Cartoon Game Expo in Shanghai Exhibition Center as an indie game section exhibitor. We have a special booth there with unique design with other local game studios. Recently, I am frequently reflecting about the relationship between artists and games, especially indie games, where a small group of gamers create the piece to fully express their ideas in fantasy. I believe it is a valuable artistic attitude, isn’t it?

How do you approach storytelling in your indie games, and how does it differ from traditional art forms?

LC: The storytelling in The Little Shelter is based on my personal experience in New York. What I am trying to do is to use environmental elements and dialogue to lay out the story in the game levels. Interaction is the key difference between games and other art forms. To tell the story, thinking about the player's interaction is relatively important.

What is the creative process like when developing an art installation with interactive gaming elements?

LC: Game installation Rising, if u means, it is originally from a school creative research. Annie and I were collaborators on several school projects, so we debated the concept several times and eventually initiated the project by inviting other team members including a game designer, data engineer, and environmental researcher.

Could you share any challenges or breakthroughs you've had in merging art with interactive media?

LC: I have no idea about that… For art itself, my attempt is more self-initiated. During my solo art exhibition, The Land of Nothingness, in :IIDRR last year, I tried to explore as much medium as possible to see which one captures my preferences.

How do you see Lunaaa.Studio's projects impacting the broader art and gaming communities?

LC: In my opinion, gaming is gradually being recognized as a form of culture or art practice by the masses. The game as a medium is at a very cutting-edge spot where technology and art meet after the explosion of AI, VR, and AR. Lunaaa.Studio is aiming to reshape digital culture with social justice. You know… algorithm itself, in the end, is about people.

How to have your personal goals or vision for Lunaaa. Studio changed since its inception, and where do you see it going in the next five years?

LC: My vision is broadened as we attempt more collaborators and clients. For the next five years, I hope we are still there doing something playful and meaningful somewhere in the world……No matter if it is online, metaverse, or outer space.

What are the key milestones or defining moments that have shaped your career as an artist and studio founder?

LC: I don’t really know. I always want to build my studio. It is my childhood dream.

How do you navigate burnout or creative block, especially when leading a studio that is constantly producing work?

LC: I am a person who easily feels content with my current life. Eating ice cream, chatting with friends, or listening to music. Learning to zoom out or take a break will make the creative process not that frustrating.

What role does community play in the work you do at Lunaaa studio, and how do you engage with the local and global art community?

LC: I do value the community, whether it is in games, art, or even more. Adapting to the way of community communication and making friends with other creators is a natural process for me to participate in an event.

Are there any dream collaborations, either with other artists or institutions, that you hope to pursue in the future?

LC: Every collaborator with a cool angle is our dream collaborator. We are open to anything amazing upcoming.

How do you navigate cultural differences when creating projects for audiences in both China and the U.S.?

LC: I truly believe that a good piece has a global standard. As long as our expression is genuine and we spend enough love and effort in the proper direction, it will work out someday sometimes.

Have you noticed any differences in how your work is received in these two regions?

LC: Yes, definitely. The Little Shelter is created in the New York Art community, creators in the States more easily get the context of the turbulence of city living and resonate with the protagonist. In China, I found most of my players are young girls and game creators. We are still trying to figure out how to better merge our two cultural backgrounds into this game to approach a bigger audience group. (If anyone knows the localization team in the game industry… plz let me know...lol)

How do gaming and interactive art trends differ between China and the U.S., and how does Lunaaa.Studio adapt to both?

LC: The game industry in China is rising with the newly released first 3A game Black Myth Wukong and upcoming pieces. In the US, the industry has been pretty mature. But, still, the game industry is a young industry compared to many other industries. We are light on our feet to flow with the industry.

Can you discuss any cross-cultural collaborations that have influenced your projects?

LC: Yep, we recently collaborated with MKW China American Wrestling Competition for game promotion. I believe that cross-cultural culture is a natural part of learning something new (new music, new languages, and new disciplines). In the end, culture is about the beauty of diversity.

What are the challenges of exhibiting in both China and the U.S.?

LC: In the China Game Industry, the misogyny situation is still pretty severe. I feel not that comfortable as the only female-own studio exhibitor while working. I hope the situation will get better as more female game creators speak out their valuable voices bravely.