Yachan Yuan Creates a Contemplative Space in Let it Grow

My name is Yachan Yuan, and I am a visual designer and VFX artist. I hold an MFA in Visual Effects from SCAD and an MA in Collaborative and Industrial Design from Aalto University. My journey into immersive media began with a passion for visual storytelling across cultural boundaries. I explore the intersection of digital technology, poetic symbolism, and sensory experience—particularly where visual design serves as a bridge between personal memory and collective myth.

I submitted Let it Grow to share a quiet yet resonant exploration of myth, environment, and emotional rhythm. Winning this award is deeply meaningful; it signals that slower, immersive, and culturally grounded works can find their place in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Let it Grow was inspired by the Finnish Sami myth of “Revontulet,” the fire of the fox, where auroras are imagined as sparks from a magical fox's tail. I wanted to reflect on how myth and nature intertwine in Northern European culture and how visual space can invite audiences into a meditative cycle of light, sound, and energy.

What set this project apart was its cultural depth and poetic restraint. Rather than relying solely on interactivity or dazzling effects, I used circular projection, soundscapes, and symbolic imagery to create a ritual-like environment. It invited viewers to lie down, gaze upward, and enter a contemplative experience—much like observing the real aurora beneath the Arctic sky.

Building a dome-based projection environment with limited resources was a significant challenge. I constructed the dome myself using geometric modeling and paper/cardboard structures, ensuring both stability and projection clarity. The key was embracing simplicity and finding the right balance between engineering and aesthetics.

This recognition affirms the value of integrating mythology, cultural storytelling, and immersive media. It encourages me to continue exploring these themes and to deepen my practice in creating meaningful, sensory-rich experiences.

The level of emotional engagement from audiences has been truly surprising. Some viewers described feeling a deep sense of calm or even spiritual comfort while experiencing the piece. What moved me most was that even those from vastly different cultural backgrounds resonated with the work’s essence and underlying message.

Let your curiosity lead, and tell the story from your life with as much care as you put into the visuals themselves—the authenticity will stand out.

As immersive media evolves, I hope to position myself at the intersection of cultural memory and new media. I believe there’s room for poetic, reflective, and research-driven storytelling even in fast-paced life. My goal is to create environments that are not just visually stunning, but emotionally resonant and culturally meaningful.

The act of entering is itself a form of self-recognition, and you never know who your work might quietly speak to. Confidence grows with participation.

Let’s build spaces—both physical and digital—where experimentation, slowness, and reflection are celebrated alongside innovation.

This piece is dedicated to the Sámi people whose myth inspired it, and to all communities who view nature not as scenery but as kin.

It is a meditative aurora dream where myth, light, and soul quietly unfold in the sky above you.

I’m currently developing a new AI-driven short film that continues my exploration of cross-cultural expression. I also plan to exhibit internationally and take on more creative direction roles in experimental and immersive projects.