After six years working, first as a radio host, and then a television host in southeastern China, XIAO HAN made a brave decision. She changed careers to launch an online platform, YiwaiArt, with more than 1.5 million subscribers, which uses simple creative language to promote art education among mainlanders. She talks to Laura Zhou
What made you decide to launch a website promoting art education?
After graduating from university I became a local radio station host and then worked as a presenter at a television station in Xiamen (Xiamen) in Fujian (Fujian) province. At that time, being a host was widely seen as a decent job, especially among my parent’s generation.
As a presenter, I was sometimes asked to host commercial events. As a TV host,
I was usually paid more to do it than other hosts, but I realised that was because of my title, rather than my talent and ability. There’s nothing wrong in wanting to have a stable job like being a presenter of a state-owned media company, but I was eager to do something different to prove my own worth.
In 2013, China started to embrace a new wave of internet start-up companies. I thought about setting up my own media channel, but couldn’t decide what the content should be.
I love history and art, but like most of people I didn’t really “understand” art. I don’t think that is because of any failing on the part of the general public. It’s just that the way the subject of art is introduced is wrong.