Shuxing Fan’s background is as remarkable as his artwork.
Fan, who joined the Department of Theatre and Drama as an assistant professor this fall, lived through the Cultural Revolution in his native China. He was part of the famed “Class of ’77”– a group of young Chinese scholars that belatedly entered universities after the end of the turmoil – and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Central Academy of Drama in his hometown of Beijing, where he studied scene design.
He went on to obtain his Master of Fine Arts in scene design from Boston University and took a job at the Center Stage Company in Baltimore. He’s since worked on many national and international projects, including Broadway productions of Cats and Sunset Boulevard, the Atlanta Olympic opening ceremonies and President Clinton’s Inaugural Gala.
Fan began teaching as an adjunct professor at George Washington University in 2009.
Welcome, Shuxing! Why are you excited to be at the University of Wisconsin-Madison?
The Theatre and Drama department here is focused on using the most up to date technology and the broadest range in entertainment design. The professional and research environment can be a valuable resource that will allow me to contribute my experiences to rebuilding the scene design program.
What courses do you teach?
I'm currently teaching Design Seminar and Theatre Design 911, which is mentoring graduate student thesis projects.
What can students expect in the classroom?
I've found that one of the most critical missing links in the design process is that many students fail to translate their great ideas into visible artistic elements. As an old Chinese saying goes, “It is always better to teach someone to fish than to give them fish,” my teaching approach is to teach my students how to find, select, and use the best tools and skills that fit both their own immediate needs and their future development. These skills will become their own personal specialties and artistic styles that will keep them successfully employed.
Do you have a favorite painter?
Rembrandt.
What are your favorite things to paint?
I like to paint portraits, still life and landscape.