In 2002, at just 16 years of age, Tian Yuan released her first English-language novel Zebra Woods to critical international acclaim.
At the same time, the Wuhan native joined local band Hopscotch as a vocalist and lyricist. The band released their first English-language album the following year, entitled A Wishful Way. Influenced by trip-hop and Indie rock, the album was well-received by many critics and the general public in China due to its fresh sound.
However Tian is probably best known to Macau audiences for her acting role as a lesbian singer and on-screen love interest of fellow actress Josie Ho, in the 2004 Hong Kong film Butterfly. Her debut performance won her the ‘Best New Performer’ award at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards and at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Awards.
In her literary, musical and cinematic pursuits, Tian has a passion for creating things that change the way her audiences think. And she hopes to continue to present a more vibrant spectrum of works in the future.
“I wish to offer a diverse perspective in my work, some inspirations and ideas. I want to be free from capitalist controls. No more restrictions. That’s what I have been advocating. Nothing changes but more tolerance,” Tian says.
Speaking with CLOSER in the midst of intensive rehearsals for her first show in Macau as part of The Script Road, Tian says of her Macau show, “I hope to bring something intriguing and relaxing”.
Peering out into the murky world is one of the ways she finds inspiration for her writing. Tian likes to sit in a café or restaurant and listen to what people have to say about their private lives, as if she were a spy. Sometimes she loves imagining and visualising her dreams with words.
“I’ve had a lot of dreams. I feel that they are another form of reality, very close to a world of freedom. I jot down notes each time I dream. Also I attempt to do meditation through my dreams,” she says.
She attributes her love of writing to her parents, both of whom love reading and collect a wide variety of books.
“We have a big bookshelf at home and I used to sit in a drawer and read when I was young,” Tian recalls.
The book that has influenced Tian the most in her life is The Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde, a collection of sad tales for adults.
“It’s so ridiculously beautiful. I loved it so much when I was a child. His tales are all about the brutal truth on earth – what you can’t get always becomes the best.”
As a writer her motto is to “be yourself and be true to yourself and write without any prunes and prisms. No matter whether you are writing or playing music, if you put on airs, the audience will sense it,” she says. “Be sincere in your emotions.”
Despite her success and obvious passion for writing, Tian has decided not to write any more novels at this stage.
“When I look back, my novels sound too childish. I need more life experience. I’ll be more mature with the passage of time. An old grandmother always knows most about life. When I know more about what life is exactly, I’ll pick up my pen again.”
Having said this, Tian can’t stop writing completely and is very much in the habit of keeping a diary and writing a lot of journal entries.
“Perhaps I love writing more than speaking and that’s why I became a writer,” Tian says. “Now I’m focusing more on scriptwriting”.
Following the Festival, Tian will start filming a new movie production. “This time I’ll direct a full-length movie and reinvent my writings into the work.”
Tian Yuan will perform on March 30 at 7pm
at the Cotai Arena, Venetian Macao.
Tickets available at the portuguese bookshop
and CotaiTicketing
MOP350
