#116: Artistic journey, Self-realisation and Life philosophy with Monica Tong

Chiwi Journal

Kia ora, Nihao and hello! Welcome to the Chiwi Journal Podcast. I’m your host Camellia Yang.

My guest today is Monica Tong. Monica was born in Nanjing, China, and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. She spent eight years in the finance industry in New Zealand and Australia before she turned to her passion for art and design. She studied and practised as a multi-media artist in Los Angeles and currently lives in London.

We talked about:

1. What's Chiwi (Chiwi Kiwi)? And What traits of Chiwi have?
2. What’s so good about New Zealand’s working-life balance environment and career break policy?
3. The journey of giving up a highly paid banking job to pursue a passion in the art world.
4. How does work with clay can bring a time-travelling experience?
5. Why does making ceramics artworks can bring you mindfulness and joy?
6. How to deal with self-doubt that and gain back confidence while shifting your career path?
7. How to cope with peer pressures and traditional Chinese family’s values when choosing to be an artist?
8. Brief intro about egg-frozen experience and women in 30s dilemma
9. Success means have a single impact on individual life and let the ripple effect brings on positive changes.
10. Bring ceramics to elders and children to see the world through different lenses.

Books and Links Mentioned:

• Wabi-sabi philosophy
• Dao De Jing
• The Third Cultural Adults
• Ralph Waldo Emerson - To laugh often and much; to win respect; to earn appreciation; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world better; one life has breathed easier because you lived here.

Get in touch with Monica

• Instagram: @momo_production @studio.m.ceramics
• Monica's website
• Royal Colleague of Arts profile

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