Fragments of Silence
In the depths where dreams edge toward dawn,
a silent world stirs—
fractured, hidden, vividly alive.
Shadow bleeds into light,
an unclaimed realm, half-truth, half-lie.
a silent world stirs—
fractured, hidden, vividly alive.
Shadow bleeds into light,
an unclaimed realm, half-truth, half-lie.
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
2/3
Work on paper, Arches 300gsm - 140 lb, white.
Unframed Dimensions:17.5 x 23 in.
Jun, 2023
Even if we seize the known, what then?
It’s only a frame, a still lens.
As faint waves tremble, forms blur and fade,
all that’s held dissolves into shifting haze.
Shortest route,
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:23.5x 15.7 in.
Apr, 2024
Once all is revealed, meaning erodes.
Why chase an answer—a hollow shell?
Untitled, 20231201
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:15.7 x 23.5 in.
Dec, 2023
Interviewing
Runze Yu
Our conversation with Runze felt like we were probing into the depths of silence, searching for answers only to find more questions—a dialogue that revealed layers without revealing all.
EST8: Art is a delicate and subjective thing; each person interprets it differently. From your perspective as a creator, what do you aim to express in your work?
Runze: I actually don’t like to imagine how audiences might respond, nor do I want to over-explain each piece. Aesthetics are subjective, private, even a bit twisted. Sometimes, withholding explanation allows for a deeper, more personal connection.
EST8: You seem protective of your inner world, preferring not to over-define it. Let’s shift the question, then—what occupies your mind during creation? Your works carry a handmade texture from the grains of screen printing, but this tactile quality contrasts with a sense of digital void.
Untitled, 20131108
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:10 x 14 in.
Nov, 2023
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:10 x 14 in.
Nov, 2023
Runze: We could create a “standard answer” to make it all seem more digestible. In that sense, my work could be simply viewed as a record of dreams—specific scenes rearranged through abstract forms, a collage of tangible dreams. The process of screen printing itself demands logic and structure, as layers are separated and reconstructed. My previous labour experience as visual designer also comes through; I use structured logic to convey intangible, abstract thoughts.
EST8: At EST8, we’re not after standard answers. There are enough clichés about artists and their passion; we’re more interested in the stories beneath the surface. A single “answer” doesn’t exist—individual experience is inherently inconsistent.
MstDrm-a,
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:11 x 11 in.
Sep, 2023
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:11 x 11 in.
Sep, 2023
EST8: One notable aspect of your work is your depiction of crowds, which seems at odds with your focus on personal interpretation. Why the emphasis on crowds?
Runze: Crowds are my source of anxiety. We, as social beings, can’t walk alone. The more we’re surrounded by others, the more our thoughts collide. I’m highly susceptible to outside influence and no longer wish to be confined by that. I used to hold a strong Marxist perspective, seeking a “standard answer” as a way to establish permanence in society. But that conviction has started to waver. I no longer feel compelled to overanalyze external forces or force resolutions. We exist within a complex, chaotic reality where events don’t always follow cause and effect; they are often mere coincidences.
MstDrm-e,
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:11 x 11 in.
Sep, 2023
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:11 x 11 in.
Sep, 2023
EST8: So, would you consider yourself an idealist now?
Runze: Not necessarily. I’m searching for a belief system but have yet to find one that’s fully convincing. At times, I envy those who have faith—everything seems simpler, with clear goals and fixed guidelines. Faith brings its own rewards.
EST8: Faith can indeed offer simplicity and fulfillment, but it can also stem from resignation. Confronting a complex, imperfect world with rigid ideals can foster a sense of disconnection. When reality offers no clear anchor, people often place their hopes in something distant, propelling themselves forward. So, what do you consider your reward?
Runze: The reward is simply living in the real world.
Untitled, 20231228
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:15.7 x 23.5 in.
Dec, 2023
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
1/1
Work on paper, Hahnemühle German Etching 310gsm, 100% aCellulose, white
Unframed Dimensions:15.7 x 23.5 in.
Dec, 2023
CREDITS
Back Drop Photo 1, 2, 3
题解x3,
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
3/3
Work on paper, Arches 300gsm - 140 lb, white
Unframed Dimensions:14 x 10 in.
Jan, 2024
题解x3,
Printmaking(Comprehensive /Digital imaging /Photograph copy)
3/3
Work on paper, Arches 300gsm - 140 lb, white
Unframed Dimensions:14 x 10 in.
Jan, 2024
RUNZE YU
Born in 1994 in Ezhou, Hubei, Runze Yu is currently based in China, pursuing studies in Technological Imagery at the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts.
CONTENT CREATIVE: EST8 MAG
"If you’re reading this, then these words were meant for you. Each line becomes another thread in the fabric of your life. I know you have other things waiting, but for now, resting is what matters most. Don’t trust them yet; making peace with time is as crucial as the tasks in front of you. Influence is inevitable—proof you’ve chosen to keep going. So, if he asks for respect or trust, offer it slowly, and listen to what else he might say.
Whether you finish what you think you ‘should’ isn’t important; it’s the sequence of this reading that matters. The same goes for thought: the result, not the assumed obligation, is what counts. I know—there’s nothing left you want to see, nothing you care to seek. Go back to your room, light three cigarettes, inhale the first quickly, indulge in excess and distraction (you can smoke the other two afterward). Then return to your work, crack open a comic, and forget those endlessly rehearsed, flawless dialogues with yourself.
No one escapes their humanity, no matter how we might wish to. You, like me, barely dent the grand statistics of life. Looks like you’ve finally understood."
Whether you finish what you think you ‘should’ isn’t important; it’s the sequence of this reading that matters. The same goes for thought: the result, not the assumed obligation, is what counts. I know—there’s nothing left you want to see, nothing you care to seek. Go back to your room, light three cigarettes, inhale the first quickly, indulge in excess and distraction (you can smoke the other two afterward). Then return to your work, crack open a comic, and forget those endlessly rehearsed, flawless dialogues with yourself.
No one escapes their humanity, no matter how we might wish to. You, like me, barely dent the grand statistics of life. Looks like you’ve finally understood."
CONTENT CREATIVE: EST8 MAG