Exhibition Date: April, 2024
Class 121
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Revolution
- Grayson Douglas
I wanted to make a dynamic artwork to reflect modern-day politics and events in the theme of a Renaissance painting. There have been a lot of controversies in the government currently, with a lot of protests happening, and I wanted to create a piece that reflects the themes of power and struggle between the government and society. I used sheep and wolf as a metaphor for human nature because of how similar those stereotypes are to the government and society. The wolf is always the strong powerful one who suppresses, and the sheep is the peaceful submissive. Inspired by this, I inverted their roles, to convey my message. I wanted to capture the feelings of chaos in the painting, and how uncontrolled everything is. The Renaissance masterpieces are recognized for their ability to depict complex narratives, political scenes and societal themes. Therefore, I chose this as my painting style.
Materials: Oil Paint on Canvas
Disinter
- Jonah Byron
As a Métis artist, my Indigenous heritage has always remained an integral, yet relatively ambiguous facet of my life, one that I've wanted to explore creatively for quite some time. When the opportunity arose to develop a unique and wholly personal art piece, I jumped at the chance to express both myself and my ancestry in a visually compelling, thematically resonant and artistically engaging manner. Illustrating the “severed" connection between ourselves and our own ancestry, Disinter aims to examine what it means to reconnect with our past, and how the process of excavating our "roots" can be an arduous, dirty and sometimes painful experience. My intent was not to create a piece solely reflective of my story, but rather construct a canvas for viewers to portray their own lived experiences, experiences I believe we all need to acknowledge, and given the weight of such an impressionistic topic, it was important to navigate it with reverence, understanding and clarity.
Materials: Clay. Organic Materials
Paper-Cut Dreams
- Daria Kravchenko
I love the feeling of nostalgia, especially the kind that reconnects you with your early childhood. It's that beautiful time when first dreams are conjured, interests and passions are sparked, the young mind is open and curious about the world. As adults, we feel down or lost sometimes and whenever I do, I like being transported to my childhood, remembering the dreams of a kid who loved reading picture books and playing with paper cut dolls. Imagining how impressed my child self would be with what I can achieve today warms my heart and lets me know that I'm probably moving in the right direction. Given how important one's childhood memories are, I wanted this picture book to make one feel as close to their own childhood as possible. Even though digital, illustrations in the book are done in a style that resembles usage of crayons and colored pencils - primary tools of young aspiring artists. The illustrations themselves are simple, cheerful and bright and hopefully will make one reminisce of reading similar books for the first time.
To experience Daria’s picture book, please visit this link.
Materials: Digital illustration - Procreate. Paper cut diorama - Paper, Cardboard, Foam Board
Innocent Moment
- Miki Yamamoto
I initially got interested in Medium and wanted to create something using it. Plus, I made this piece out of curiosity to experiment with different materials. The reason behind creating it was that I noticed a shift in my mindset from childhood to adulthood. When I was a kid, I followed my curiosity without hesitation. But as I grew up, I realized my rational side often held back my creative impulses. I also started fearing rejection from others. The different colors spilling out of the glass represent my inner curiosity. The starry sky represents my fear, and the reason for the sprinkling of glitter is the desire not to give up. The fruit of Orange imply the passion. The silhouettes of various children represent memories of curious childhood. This piece reflects my childhood curiosity, but I hope viewers will interpret it in their own way. It's my expression, yet everyone can take it in as they please
Materials: Canvas, Dried Fruits, Acrylic Paint, Glass, Medium/glitter
Illusion of Control
- Vivian Yang
How much control of your emotions do you think you have? No matter what I expect and how hard I try, how I feel can be unpredictable and unstable. Even when I think I have control and I'm "rolling the dice", the result Is uncertain and is affected by the environment around It. I grew up playing video games with my brothers and started drawing out of my love for the games we played. It motivates me to keep creating when I see my art come to life and becomes something Interactive for viewers. For this piece I was mainly Inspired by DND, an Interactive table top role play game. In the game, I get to decide the actions of my character but ultimately the outcome Is determined by the dice.
Materials: Canvas panels, Acrylic Paint, Glue, and Silicone
Consume
- Hayden Miller
The purpose of this project is to marry a few of my passions together in a demonstration of elements I find fascinating and visual concepts that have left me in awe from a young age.
I like seeing machines in motion, and I like seeing how machines disrupt their environment, especially for the purposes of energy generation. When making this piece, the concept of being consumed relentlessly and being pulled into it permeated my thoughts while making this.
Researching this project was a joy; I studied turbine designs to ensure the simulation would play out the way I expected it to, and just had fun trying to design something that works and functions. Artistically, getting the camera movements, pacing, and overall look to the project is equally as exciting – especially in 3D. It’s much like a painting: layering and layering details from particles, fog, lighting, camera motion – all to serve the narrative you’re trying to tell.
Materials: Mac and PC Computers, Blender, After Effects and Premiere Pro
Running with You Tonight
- Joy Lai
Based on the journey of becoming a vegetarian for thirteen years. There, I unexpectedly found out that this kind of practice has made me become a gentler person, and have no idea why, but have found that this habit of taking care of others' feelings seems to be a starting point that can lead me to world peace.
I think it's a very heartwarming and beautiful wish, one that I want to visualize. I aim to let people who once felt hope for peace and mutual love, even just for a moment, remember that in the face of all the darkness in this world, maybe we don’t have to fight alone. Maybe we can rely on each other to get through the hardships and struggles that life throws at us, and in the end, create a softer world.
I have always had a fascination with transparent materials as an artistic medium. I think capturing the crystal-clear light in the work will provide a layer of spirituality and grandeur to the piece. So, for this project, I really hope to use heat-shrinkable film to integrate into the work. Heat shrink is an interesting material that scales proportionally at high temperatures, making it a nuanced and versatile medium to work with. The process involves illustrating a draft on a frosted heat-shrinkable sheet, ensure that it is evenly colored with a water pencil crayon, and then place it in the oven to bake. After the process is complete, cover it with UV gel sealant to protect and embellish the work.
Materials: Heat shrink sheet, Pencil Crayon, Fabric, Wood or Picture frame, Canvas
Mask
- Chunliang Wei
My project revolves around exploring masks as symbols in my life. Each mask represents a different aspect of myself: madness, joy, sanity, and my true self within my comfort zone. The box symbolizes the limitations I impose on myself. At the top of the box, you'll see the contrast between my inner and outer. The second mask reflects my struggle to maintain sanity, but inside, it's a mess of restlessness and anxiety. My joy mask represent the ability to find laughter amidst life's chaos. As for the last mask, inspired by the Joker, the madness mask is shut with yarn over the eyes and mouth, locking away the things that drive me crazy. I utilized a diverse array to embellish my masks to give them their own unique flair and style. Through this project, I hope to reflection on the masks we wear daily and the truths hidden behind them
Materials: Feathers, Acrylic Paint, Markers, Knitted Fabric, Toy Diamonds, Cardboard, Paper Mache
ME:
- Chloe Jeon
In my artwork, I try to create my own pattern, because I believe that everyone has their own unique imagery or patterns. To me, each person has a distinct colour, form, and pattern, based on the emotions they evoke in me. Whenever I think of them or try to choose something that suits them, these images come to my mind naturally.
I’m more interested in abstract representations than realistic ones. I wanted to create a vibe where static patterns blend into more fluid shapes. When reflecting on my lifestyle and personality, I realize I do lean towards planning and repetition in some areas, but at my core, I value freedom and autonomy.
Throughout my work, I focus on abstract shapes and colours, seeking a harmonious unity within one form.
Materials: Acrylic, Watercolour, Oil paint and Pen on Paper
Engulfed Ego: The Dangers of Arrogance
- Molly Howe
There is a delicate balance between confidence and arrogance.
This piece explores the relationship between ego and inner growth through the symbolism of the ram: an animal that is often associated with dominance and pride. With its horns growing inwards as opposed to outwards, it demonstrates the dangers of how an unchecked ego can ultimately lead to self-destruction. If someone refuses to grow in the interest of others, or refuses to take critiques, then they will lead themselves to their own downfall.
The beads used in the piece symbolize the blood dripping from the wounds inflicted by the ram’s own self arrogance. I wanted to translate the gruesome and macabre nature of blood into a material that is typically seen as beautiful and elegant in order to add contrast to the distressed expression of the subject. This juxtaposition in use of materials also adds to the idea of the ego and finding the beauty in tragedy.
Materials: Wood (stand), Wire (armature), Clay, Acrylic paint, Matte varnish, Beads and String
The Year of Past to Present and of Many
- Carson Li
I always wanted to know how the traditional Chinese artworks were made and about the artists' visions. I am also very interested in mashing different subjects into a harmonious expressive subject. I have always been fascinated and curious about Chinese enduring cultural heritage and traditions. Throughout this artwork, I want to convey the idea of cultural heritage and time enduring traditions that shares its relevance to a modern society. By exploring the essential methods used from ancient expressions, I want to shed light on how China's cultural heritage remains prevalent and captivating in the modern age. Inspired by the traditional Chinese weather concept of 24 solar terms, the shift of seasons and landscapes represented in hours, days, months, and seasons, potentially convey the passage of time. Through the research on how to apply the calligraphy ink brush on the long reel paper, I challenged my creative skills to break out the limits of a traditional artist. I also want to deliver my cultural identity with a dynamic and innovative expression. When a viewer stands before this artwork for the first time, I want them to immerse in a trip in time and culture, and reflect back at their own relationship with history and cultural heritage.
Materials: Calligraphy ink, pencil, carbon pen, watercolour pen, on Long-reel paper
Skin
- Owen Clarke
A place familiar to home. You feel uneasy as you gaze upon the unbalanced and whirling landscapes. They flow freely allowing your eyes to scan the isolated environment with ease. You look off to the horizon only to be met with the grueling wall of a shadowed sky.
The only light springs from an unreachable place. You realize this is earth, this is our skin, these are our muscles holding the crust together. The rock represents our mind, its base swallowed by flaps of flesh resembling mud. Trapped amongst the rustled terrain unable to explore freely. Our future generations will be left with nothing if we don’t treat our planet how we’d treat our own bodies.
Materials: Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Diem Takuti
- Klarence Tenedy
Through 2D animation, I've created a video titled Diem Takuti. Because I wanted to express how a fighter feels fear before the fight and in the fight. I wanted to express in my video how it feels inside to be a fighter in any competitions like Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Kyokushin Karate and Sanda. The one that heavily inspired this work is my mom. She is a lovely person who has a deep understanding of fear and has taught me how to control that fear and transform it into a weapon to succeed in fights. I wanted to express to my audience how it felt to be scared, overcome it and transform it into a powerful tool for victory
Materials: Classical Animation
Gifted
- William Cashin
As a "gifted" student, I find that I have to strike a precarious balance between meeting expectations set upon me by people who have no idea what's running through my head, and trying to make realistic expectations for myself while also not knowing what runs through my own head.
I feel that trying to balance these things tears me apart and creates a lot of stress for myself. I find myself feeling very unstable when I try to force myself to be consistent to these expectations. When I can't achieve something it feels like I'll never achieve it and that all of my work to get to that point was useless, irrelevant, or just a waste of my time.
The sculpture is a representation of these feelings. The books representing my mind and knowledge, being slowly overtaken by dark feelings of stress, anxiety, and imposter syndrome. The reason I chose to make a sculpture was to try and represent my thoughts in a more tangible medium. It also allowed me to make my project look similar to that of a trophy.
Materials: Mixed Media (Paper Mache, Styrofoam, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Metal Stand, Tinfoil)
Turmoil
- Conall Duggan
I like dealing with aggressive ideas and using harsh color schemes, the art piece over all is an extension of my mind. The chaos in the center represents what I feel sometimes with the buildup of frustration. Finally having a creative output is still very new to me from switching careers. The shapes I ended up using are sharp to better represent an aggressive feel for the piece.
The horizontal nature of the art piece lends to calm feelings which is what I hope to accomplish. Feeling calm on the outside but bubbling up with emotions on the inside is a good way to view my piece. I think it's the chaos of how it’s put together lends to the emotions I was trying to evoke. With only three colors being used I allow myself more freedom in which type of materials I can use. The white canvas paper on the back of the art piece helps enforce the black colors with the background that the black lays on being just as sharp and harsh.
Materials: Plastic mesh, white canvas fabric, black vinyl, black party paper, bead string
Glow Whispers
- Royran Yi
As a child, I often found myself struggling with the complexities of life, feeling lost and confused. My parents' busy schedules didn’t let them spend enough time with me. But on the other side, there was always friends surround me and give me help and encouragement when I'm about to give up.
I wanted to capture this struggle and confusion on canvas, drawing inspiration from yin-yang.In Chinese cosmology, the universe creates itself out of a primary chaos of material energy, organized into the cycles of yin and yang and formed into objects and lives.In this painting, I want to use the form of yin and yang to express a sense of confusion.
In my art, I use paper butterflies to symbolize the guiding lights that have lightened my journey. These butterflies represent the people who have offered support and direction throughout my life. I chose paper cuttings for their passing nature, depicting the temporary yet impactful presence of friends and mentors. People who may not accompany us for a lifetime but leave a lasting impression nonetheless.
Materials: Pigments,Painting Brush,Paper Cut, Pencil
Pick Yourself Back Up
- Marcus Chala
For most of my life, I’ve enjoyed others’ artwork in a self-deprecating light. For how much I might praise them for every detail and be awed by the time commitment, it would always end with: “I could never.” Because of this, over the years I’ve tried to develop styles that are simple and clean; something that anyone could do with a smidgeon of artistic intuition or design experience, and I’ve been scared to make anything complex or messy. With this project, I wanted to confront this negative view. While generally inspired by those with a sketchy/scratchy art style, I aimed to make something unique for me, and be comfortable with it not looking perfect. I chose the medium of classical animation because it fits this philosophy well. In this piece I tried to depict the inner battle one has when attempting to finish a large project. wanted the idea to be intentionally vague so the audience can come to their own conclusions or interpretations of the material.
Materials:Classical Animation - Pencil, Animation Paper, Ruler
The Flow of my Mind
- Jack Dunn
I made this piece to explore what it's like to let my subconscious and body lead me through and take control of the piece. I had no plan and decided to draw a piece that
was a pure flow of my consciousness. I chose to use materials and mediums that allowed me to translate that flow from my brain onto my paper, Charcoal and ink pens.
I enjoy working with charcoal as I can create harsh and soft textures with it simultaneously, and create an interesting contrast.
I was inspired by Cody Tarantino and Manabu Ikeda to create a depiction of the flow state of my mind. Overall exploring the beauty of making deliberate art is more important than an outcome. For me, the most important element is the act of intentional creation rather than the final outcome. Embracing the uncertainty of the final product was part of the beauty of this creative journey.
Materials: The flow of my mind, paper, Charcoal and ink pens.
Drowning
- Tom Wu
As an Asian kid, I was encouraged to fulfill my parents' wishes: 'You need to get good grades and go to a world-famous university.' That pressure felt like a heavy stone, dragging me deep into the ocean. My parents labeled this pressure as 'love,' believing it was their way of expressing care. By showcasing my achievements to others, they believed they were demonstrating parental care.
This is why I use the metaphor of the ocean in my artwork to symbolize this opposition: on the surface, beauty and calmness, but beneath, the unseen pressure. Just like the figure in my art piece, imprisoned in a box, struggling for life in the ocean. Around his waist is a rope connected to a heavy stone labeled 'love.
Materials: Iron, Clay, Tin foil, Sand, Plastic
Watched
- Edric Anthony Trisno
"Watched" is a clay sculpture showing a big eyeball watching a small person caught by its long tail, highlighting how privacy is lacking today. It's inspired by the overwhelming surveillance of security cameras, capturing, and storing our every move.
The sculpture also reflects the anxiety of feeling judged by everyone you encounter, as if their stares dig deep into your soul. The human figure's nakedness symbolizes the vulnerability we feel. The eye's size represents the invasive and shameless nature of monitoring people, adding to the unease of being constantly inspected.
Materials: Styrofoam Ball, Aluminum, Clay, Metal Wire, Acrylic Paint
Disconnection
- David Sophonow
My art piece "Disconnection" explores themes of family history, ancestry and feelings of loss and disconnection to an ancestral culture and history. This art piece captures a particular state of mind that I felt in relation to my youth and feelings of separation from my Doukhobor roots, having grown up in Metro Vancouver. This art exhibition provided me with an opportunity for me to take the thoughts and emotions that I would contemplate at this time and bring them into physical representation.
My art piece takes inspiration from Cubism, using separate clay models to form an abstract clay sculpture of a face. The colour scheme also references both aspects of Doukhobor culture and historical events both in Russia and Canada. The purpose of this piece is to provide viewers with a snapshot of my state of mind during a particular time and place in my life.
Materials: Clay, Tinfoil, Acrylic Paints, Bamboo Skewers, Wood Panel
Pick Your Mood For The Day!
- Jimin Jung
believe we are made from our perspectives, and I always wondered how our thoughts and experiences shape who we are.
Through this project, I wanted to emphasize that positive talk to ourselves leads to happier memories and moments, and negative thoughts to negative memories.
By creating this piece, I wanted the audience to realize that, although it is not easy, positive talk can have significant impact on our lives. In my piece, the pipes represent the thought processes that connect one another. Also, the piece is colorful and vibrant, to represent the thoughts thatare bouncing around. The machine gives an “egg” when used, which represents the results of positive of negative thoughts.
I aim to inspire the others to recognize the power of their own thoughts and perceptions. I want to emphasize that by embracing positivity, we can reshape our experiences, leading to a brighter and more fulfilling existence.
Materials: Carboard, Industrial and acrylic paints, Air-dry clay, Silicon, Glue
Black and White
- Jaden Pruden
I had made this artwork to represent myself and my indigenous culture. It is made to represent what I see as the truth about my historical background. That being indigenous youth. Also to explore the pain and history of my indigenous background and heritage
The reason why I chose to use indigenous youth was because it is a problem that is happening today. As well a topic no one is willing to talk about right now. The problem is the fact that indigenous youth are suffering today. Due to having to grow up early, childhood trauma, abandonment and most importantly, mental health.
The use of making the image feel far away from the viewer is to change his or her perspective on what the problem is. As well the reason why it's a silhouette of a youth with a mohawk. Is to represent youth as warriors because indigenous youth have taken the responsibility to grow and overcome. The trauma that has left me, our people and our youth the pain and strength that has been left by our grandfathers and grandmothers.
This project challenged me with having to look further and deeper into my culture. I ended up finding out more about myself during the project. As well I learned to dig deeper into my heart which is what I hope you the viewer to do so as well.
Materials: Wood frames, Glass, mirror, Led Lights, Poster parer, Foam broad, Tint film and Charcoal.
Badges
- Parker Mise
Everyone has scars, be it physical or emotional. I consider my scars as badges; they're proof of the hard time I went through. I wear them with pride, and I believe others should too, your scars don't make you any less of a person.
I was inspired by Yanyun Chen's "THE SCARS THAT WRITE US" an art exhibition about the keloid scars of her and her family and the stories each one tells. Keloid scars are a type of scarring that may continue to darken and grow over time. The way she manages charcoal is breathtaking and inspired me to choose charcoal drawing as my medium. In my drawings, I used an exaggerated perspective of myself, highlighting the scars that cover my body. Embracing these scars, I decorated them with gold leaf, symbolizing a celebration of resilience and acceptance.
Materials: Charcoal, Kneaded Erasers, Paper Towel, Goldleaf
Visualization of Frustration and Anger
- Danny Kim
I rarely express my emotion to other people; I rather retain my frustration and anger inside myself, and it sometimes makes me very emotional, being overwhelmed with stress. Therefore, I wanted to make the art exhibition project an opportunity to be honest with myself and let all the steam off inside me. My clay sculpture visualizes the raw emotions of frustration and anger through entangled cables and steam coming out of the heart, evoking the sensation of being trapped in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, struggling against unseen forces. Yet, amidst the chaos, there is a sense of catharsis, as if the act of sculpting itself becomes a release—a transformative journey from confusion to acceptance. My work challenges perceptions of emotional vulnerability, urging us to embrace the tumultuous nature of the human experience. I hope my art piece would invite viewers to accept their own moments of frustration and anger.
Materials: Modeling Clay, Aluminum Foil, Wooden Stick, Plastic Bowl, Charging cables
The Processed Effect
- Josh Hogan
In my sculpture of a human heart, I explore the detrimental impact of fast-food consumption on the body. Constructed entirely out of discarded fast-food packaging and wrappers, my piece serves as a reminder of the consequences of indulging in convenient yet nutritionally deficient meals. Dominated by fast food materials, it illustrates how processed food can take over our body and bare a critical physical toll.
Through extensive research into fast-food’s impact on our physical health, I created this artwork to raise awareness, both for others and myself. As someone trying to break free from an unhealthy lifestyle, I'm intrigued by the repercussions of fast-food consumption, recognizing just how easy it is to succumb to its detrimental effects. Diving into the impact of a fast-food diet, I discovered its ability to yield bad cholesterol levels and inflict damage on the heart, leading me to choose the heart as the focal point of my project. My goal is for viewers to comprehend the substantial harm processed foods poses to the body, and recognize the importance of healthy dietary choices to preserve our long-term health.
Materials: Cardboard, Fast-Food Wrappers, Chopsticks, Toothpicks
Saudade
- Pedro Sixel
I started this art project because I've been missing home lately. I wanted to compare my life in Brazil with my life now. I made three paintings: my favorite childhood beach, "Maresias", another about the tradition of dying hair at the end of the year,and last my favourite bar in Sao Paulo, "Bella Dama", and the last one shows me as a kid playing soccer with friends in a park. They're all super colorful to represent the warm vibes of Brazil. To demonstrate my life now, here in Vancouver, I opted for only one canvas, but bigger. It’s all about rain, and you can see my shoes on the side. With paler and greyer colors, the rain represents homesickness.
Materials: Acrylic Paint, Paper
