<p>On today’s episode of <em>In Love with the Process</em>, Mike dives into the surreal, violent, and wildly imaginative world of artist and illustrator <strong>Mu Pan</strong>.</p><p>Known for his massive, Boschian battle scenes filled with hybrid human and bestial figures, Mu Pan creates work that feels like a lost myth, somewhere between ancient history and a fever dream. His art pulls from <strong>Japanese manga, traditional Chinese scroll painting, American history, and Hong Kong cinema</strong>, blending them into something completely unique and deeply personal.</p><br><p>His work has been exhibited internationally, including a major retrospective at <strong>Espacio Solo in Madrid</strong>, and even appeared in the award-winning horror film <em>Midsommar</em>.</p><p>Mike first discovered Mu Pan through his book <em>American Fried Rice</em>, a collection that feels like a twisted children’s storybook, equal parts playful and disturbing, and it completely blew his mind.</p><br><p>In this episode, the two go deep into:</p><ul><li>Why <strong>art school can sometimes kill creativity</strong></li><li>How your <strong>true artistic voice is often formed in childhood</strong></li><li>The long journey of losing that voice and fighting to get it back</li><li>The importance of constantly challenging yourself as an artist</li><li>The influence of manga, monster movies, and cultural storytelling on Mu Pan’s work</li><li>Why embracing the strange and uncomfortable leads to more honest art</li><li><br></li></ul><p>Mu Pan also discusses his sculptural work, “OrigaMu,” and how building physical versions of his characters expands his creative world beyond the page.</p><p>This is a conversation about <strong>art in its purest form</strong>, messy, violent, playful, and deeply human.</p><p>If you’re a filmmaker, illustrator, or creative struggling to reconnect with your voice, this episode is for you.</p><br><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mupan1911/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Mu Pan IG</strong></a></p><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mikepecci/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Mike's IG</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/inlovewiththeprocesspod/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>ILWP's IG</strong></a><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p><br><p>Music: Betamaxx &amp; Code Elektro</p><br><p>——SPONSORS——</p><br><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>FujiFilm</strong></a><strong> </strong>10% off Accessories (<a href="https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/accessories/</a>)&nbsp;and Merch (<a href="https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://shopusa.fujifilm-x.com/brand-merch/</a>) Promo code<strong> PROCESS10</strong></p><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://www.pugetsystems.com/?utm_campaign=In%20Love%20With%20The%20Process&amp;utm_source=Podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Puget Systems</strong></a></p><p><strong>► </strong><a href="https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Blackmagic Design</strong></a><strong> </strong></p><br><p><br></p><p><a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/673d1e13b1e4e2505aec165c/shows/673d23a9b1e4e2505aed49ec/episodes/Inlovewiththeprocess.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Inlovewiththeprocess.com</a></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>