Jiaying Zhang designs theater sets by taking things away. In an interview with Bushwick artist Milan Schell, Zhang argues that reducing a stage to what’s essential deepens emotional storytelling.
The conversation is titled “Distilling the Gothic.” It grew out of Heartbeat Opera’s 2026 production of Vanessa at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, Zhang told Bushwick Daily. She described it as broader than a single show, covering distillation as a design philosophy, how visual reduction affects emotional storytelling, how a single scenic concept adapts across venues, and how minimalism deepens theatrical expression.
Zhang works out of Bushwick and describes herself as a longtime reader of this outlet. Her work is at jiayingzhang.com. Schell is a Bushwick-based multidisciplinary artist.
The interview runs roughly 2,000 words and has not been published elsewhere, according to Zhang.
Featured image: Courtesy jiayingzhang.com
