Effie WU
Born in Taipei, Taiwan. Living in Berlin. Studied performing arts at the National University of the Arts in Taipei. Worked for Pipilotti RIST. 2007 finished her studies on Experimental Media Art at the University of the Arts Berlin. Works were shown in many countries and received several international awards.

- Congratulations on receiving the Encouragement Prize for Super Smile. Can you first tell us what led up to your decision to apply to the Japan Media Arts Festival?

This award was well known even at the art university where I was enrolled in Germany. Also, as I was looking at the previous year's exhibition catalog, which was made so beautifully, I felt like applying, too. (Laughter) But as a few of the students at the university were still waiting to even be selected for Jury Recommended Works, I had the impression that the judging would be quite strict. That is why when I heard that I received the Encouragement Prize I was so happy I couldn't believe it.

- What was it that made you want to become an artist in the first place?

From when I was a child I always had an interest in making something or creating something. Am I a little different compared to others? I sometimes thought like that, but in the end I came to realize that art is not like in school where you get judged by points on a test, that you have to be like the others, or be normal; you didn't have to be normal in art. In other words, it was the only place where I could just be myself.

- You've made performance the way to express your work, haven't you?

Actually I majored in drama at the National Taiwan University of Arts in Taipei. Through acting, I learned the way to interact with the public there. I was able to find a performance in which I could express my inner feelings, my inner desires. Performance is something that you have to do by yourself so it requires discipline. In that sense it is similar to drama, too.

© Effie Wu

- It is quite clear that in Super Smile you are trying to communicate and appeal to the viewers' emotions with full force. Could you please explain how this idea came about?

The theme of Super Smile is a self-portrait. In a picture or painting, the person pictured in it is commonly shown as wearing beautiful clothes or wearing beautiful jewelry, someone who's all out trying to look perfect, even concerned about the background. Super Smile frowns on that stereotypical, classic way of thinking. Of course I am not a perfect person. That is why in this work I ventured to act out a perfect person! Body moves that are smooth and eerily perfect, a perfect smile that doesn't crumble, perfection that cannot exist in the real world; I wanted to portray how unrealistic and absurd that is. I practiced many times for this and it took me about five months.

- You did not even blink an eye once during the act.

For me not blinking my eyes is not such a difficult thing. (Laughter) In response to this, it actually drew the viewers into this piece of work and a strong, close bond of communication between me and the audience resulted. What is interesting is that the people who first laughed out loud when they saw it for the first time began to gradually feel a sense of fear, after watching it over a few times.

- I hear that this is your first trip here but could you tell me your impressions of media arts in Japan and about Japan as a country?

Japan has produced some spectacular computer games and manga, and I think it shows that Japanese people are very creative. What I think is really nice is that even in any small thing, there is a bit of an idea or beauty put into it. It inspires me.

- In becoming familiar with your work, I feel that an important keyword that emerges is "coming face to face with your identity." Can you tell me a little about the current work you are producing?

I see. I feel that people have several sides to them, and I think that there is a slight gap between how people see themselves and how they feel they may be seen. I am very interested in this. For example I know the existence of my childish nature on one hand but I also feel my sense of aging, too. Also, people may have their own impression of me, and my own idea of myself may not be the same thing. I feel sometimes that the image people have of me and the image I have of myself do not match. In my next project I am looking into this aspect of identity. Like Super Smile, I plan to make a piece in film, something influenced by performance.

- Finally, could you please give us a few words for people aspiring to become artists?

This is common sense, but no matter what, don't allow the passion to dry up, think things out to the best of your ability, and it's important never to give up in what you're doing. Also, don't forget to be sincere and frank to yourself. And I think that for an artist, to be interested in knowing your inner state is a very important thing.