Mocong "Mo" Yuan

While having subtle discussions of politics, gender and sexual identity seeping into frames, I often work on a rather personal scope with self-reflexive themes. My past works articulated an intimate point of view on social taboos such as depression and suicide. I believe storytelling binds the filmmaker and their audience, yet at the same time this relationship is deemed intricate; the work itself always leaves room for the audience to interpret based on their own experiences, which ends up leading to unexpected directions and oftentimes disputations. Therefore, my works elucidate personal topics in the most straightforward narration possible; the genuine feelings and dilemmas of the characters lay flat on the screen, an honest anatomy rather than a curated display box.

Being brought up in mixed cultures has enabled me to perceive different subjects from multiple standpoints. However, the indirect detriments on a personal level, such as identity crisis, mental health and attachment issues, are equally prominent. Both sides accommodate each other as I continue to grapple with them and feed them into my projects.

The experience at the Royal College of Art has allowed me to explore various genres and techniques I had yet to experiment with in the past. I began to delve into the world of slapstick cartoon and comedy violence with whimsically drawn critters during my first year of study, whereas the focus point in the second year shifted into hand-drawn character animation with the use of limited palette, having been inspired by graphic novels and comic strips. The core message stays the same: to connect my audience with heartfelt storytelling.

I primarily work in 2D digital, hand-drawn, and frame-by-frame techniques, with the addition of stop-motion animation. My three-year experience as a sound design teaching assistant has also provided me with hands-on knowledge and attention to detail in sound-cooperated moving images.