Exhibition Date: June, 2024
Class 122
Scroll ↓
Wildest Dream
- Sundy Wu
In my sculpture, the pillow is a mysterious castle, sheltering me from the storm when I cry and guiding me through the maze of dreams when I sleep. The sparkling sequins are like elves in the dream, shimmering with a plastic-like radiance, dancing around the pillow. They are the crystallization of my tears, the fairies in my dreams, perfectly blending the emotions of my heart with the imagined world. I hope viewers can feel the inner joy and wonder, strolling with me in the boundless dreamland, experiencing the depth and beauty of inner emotions..
Materials: Sequins - Hot melt glue - Iron wire - Pillow - Bathroom mat - Super glue
Hands
- Abigail Donaldson
Hands are unique to humans, they allow us to work, create and connect. I find it fascinating that we can tell so much about how someone is feeling by looking at their hands. I decided to create three paintings showcasing different relationships between people, using only their hands as the subject.
I used color and texture to exaggerate the emotions conveyed in each piece. The paintings are meant to be more expressive than realistic. This choice allowed me to focus on the energy of the painting without worrying too much about perfection.
I chose acrylic paint as my medium because I haven’t used them since I was little. This was my opportunity to explore painting again. Overall I found the process enjoyable. It was nice to relax and let the painting happen.
Materials: Acrylic Paint
Wired
- Caelan Thorne
Wired is an ink illustration across multiple artboards, connected by paper, forming a flower-like design and explosion-type effect. I chose ink as my medium because of how it can be used as both expressive and controlled with a wide tonal range. My piece contrasts controlled illustrations drawn in fine pen with expressive washes and splatters, giving the artwork a feeling of movement and life. When creating this project, I was inspired by multiple artists such as Kim Jung Gi and Nicolas Nemiri, both artists who specialize in inks or large-scale artworks. I wanted to explore larger installations and highly detailed inkwork because of how they demand the viewers' attention, creating more engagement and impact. My piece covers the concept of a machine bursting to life which is very relevant to anyone today considering how connected we are to machines and artificial intelligence. The world as we see it today would not exist without machines.
Materials: Ink based Illustration on Artboard, Bristol and Watercolour Paper
Harmonica
- Willy Tsu
Harmonica is an animation about the creative process. We search for ideas, bring them to life, and then face a creative block, repeating this cycle endlessly. I recall feeling burned out once, unable to think of anything, and almost having a panic attack. Then I put on my headphones and listened to music. Although it didn't immediately help my creative process, in that magic moment, everything felt okay. After a few minutes, I started getting ideas and creating again. I want to capture that feeling in my piece.
The dark caves full of waste in black and white represent the sad and endless feeling of grinding for ideas. I used real-life materials to make the background more realistic and achieve a sense of realism. When the main character finds the music player, the magic moment occurs, and the animation shifts to colourful, surreal imagery.
Materials: Digital animation using Procreate
Turning Back Time
- Xiuyi Liu
My artwork reflects a personal journey connecting my cultural background and past experiences. I learned Chinese calligraphy as a child and Chinese watercolour painting since they are closely related. This project allowed me to explore watercolour for the first time and apply my calligraphy skills in a new medium.
I draw inspiration from ancient paintings and aim to tell stories in a modern way through traditional forms. I created a revolving lantern symbolizing my culture and carrying stories and memories. The six paintings on the lantern depict plants significant at different stages of my life. By spinning and lighting up the lantern, you can see a human figure walking through each panel, symbolizing the passage of time and life's journey.
Assembling the lantern posed challenges due to the precise sizing and shaping of each component. However, the process was exciting, blending traditional art forms with modern storytelling. I hope this work encourages viewers to learn about my journey and reflect on their own memories.
Materials: Chinese calligraphy ink, Watercolor, Rice Paper, Wood
Building a Man
- Tyler Kooyman
Despite having a body for as long as I can remember, there is still a lifetimes worth of information about it that I still don’t know. It is made of just under a dozen different systems, all working together to ensure that we stay functional. And although it has been meticulously built with time and patience, throughout my life I was only faced with confusion, discomfort and dysphoria when confronted by it. These issues prompted the discovery of my identity, and for that I am grateful.
Now moving forward, I have found an interest in the human body and the relationship with my own. In order to create “Building A Man”, I spent my time reading through textbooks and researching various elements that make up the body. After grabbing hold of pieces that caught my eye, I began the construction of an eccentric and vivid depiction of what we are made of. The result of which is a surreal take on the diagrams found in medical textbooks. All of this is in hopes of deepening my understanding of myself, the world around us and, of course, the one within.
Materials: Acrylic, Watercolour, Oil paint and Pen on Paper
Mosaic of Memories
- Alayna Jankovic
Eyes are the gateway to the soul. I've always held a deep fascination for eyes and explored this through my art piece. I find it intriguing, the vulnerability and connection one feels when looking into another’s eyes.
My piece is a mixed media collage of eyes pieced together to form one large eye. It symbolizes the many little things in our lives such as experiences, memories, people, emotions, moments, etc. that influence and shape who we are and how we view the world. Each board of my canvas displays eyes of a particular emotion: fear, jealousy, sadness, joy, and anger. I chose to make the iris rainbow because the contrasting symbolism of rainbows such as joy, love, death, and change connect well with my theme. As we go through life discovering ourselves it’s a messy, beautiful journey that I wanted to express by emphasizing the piecing and pasting together of many small varying pieces.
Materials: Foam boards, pencil crayons, crayons, markers, paint, stickers, string, glue, podge
Phone Call
- Joyce Han
I used to call my grandmother almost every night just to talk to her because she had no one else to talk to. She made it one of the things she looked forward to every day, but after I came to Canada, I only called her once. She passed away in April. I miss her so much and want to do something to memorize her.
I am inspired by the lyrics of a Taiwanese song that tells the departed to remember to call their families when they go to the other place. My concept is to present the connection between me and my grandmother, using lace and threads to represent the element “phone call”.
The gold paper in the foreground of my drawing is the joss paper. Traditionally, this type of joss paper is burned to wish for the arrival of the departed to paradise.
Materials: Digital drawing, photo, lace, thread
Renew
- Alexandra Eschak
When I was young my mother taught me how to knit and though it did not connect with me, it sparked an interest in historical fibre crafts. In recent years I have tried others, and as I worked though I was frustrated at times the prevailing thing I felt was a sense of serenity and connection. Connection to all the woman who came before, who practised the same crafts not as a hobby but as an integral skill.
My piece is a tapestry using yarn, thread and beads to fuguritively depict when the skills were common place (a lush tree), the time they were dying out (dead branches), and the new generations now discovering them (blooming flowers). As well as stars that represent the knowledge of the crafts, as the light that is reaching us now was produced hundreds and thousands of years ago.
Materials: Yarn, Thread, Beads
Tree of Wisdom
- Mona Winston
The "tree of wisdom" is a 3D clay sculpture I created that's supposed to symbolize growth, how deep your roots go. My inspiration for this piece is nostalgia.
Earlier this year I celebrated Lunar New Year alone when usually I'm in Vietnam with family for the holidays. Because I couldn't go home this year, I felt very homesick. So I wanted to create this piece to fill a nostalgic void that I was feeling earlier on in the year.
This piece means a significant amount to me because it's a reminder of all the wisdom & advice I've gathered from others and how I'm going to relay my knowledge to others around me. Through this piece I invite viewers to pause and reflect on the timeless wisdom you've received in your lifetime and to hopefully leave with a nostalgic sense of wonder?
Materials: Wire, animation clay, red envelopes, wooden sticks, clear string, pearls etc ...
Time
- Carrick Wong
This is my artwork, titled “Time.” I created a Time Slice photo. I want to show how time works with everything. I have taken a picture from the Lions Gate Bridge. I take photos at different times to capture a distinct moment. Like a rainy day, a sunny day, or night. This work tries to remind people how important time is. I combined 13 photos into one photo to show different times.
Time is one of the most precious resources in our lives. Time is like running water, passing silently and never stopping. We often say "time flies" to remind us how precious time is. The preciousness of time is that it is irreversible. We cannot go back to the past and only cherish the present. Time is also fair; everyone only has the same 24 hours; the key is how to use this time. Therefore, we must know how to cherish time, arrange our lives reasonably, and pursue our goals and dreams. Time is a mysterious and universal concept in Basho. The heart of creating beautiful memories allows us to leave traces in the long river of time. Use it well, make every moment meaningful, and do not waste time.
Materials: Digital Photography
Sinking Sanctuary
- Blake Simpson
As a child I formed this sanctuary in my mind while playing on a virtual island late into the night, finding reassurance in the simplicity and calmness of the area.
Now feeling as if I'm clinging to the last piece of it knowing that the tide of time is slowly submerging the island, I still want to give it one last chance to shine and truly show this sanctuary still has some life left. Still filled with the devices and keepsakes that bring me joy.
I've chosen to go with mediums and techniques I'm not comfortable with such as acrylic pouring and diorama building so, I can do these important keepsakes justice and give them the proper respectful space that they've given me my entire life.
I hope after seeing the Sinking Sanctuary, viewers can imagine their own sanctuary and what they might hold dear on it.
Materials: Foam panel canvas, kinetic sand, pouring medium, acrylic paint, poster board, moss
Echoes of Innocence
- Sofian Xu
Growing up, many of us lose our childlike innocence due to life's challenges, which push us to mature. But I believe keeping an innocent heart helps us face setbacks with optimism and see the world with curiosity and appreciation.
Echoes of innocence reflects how I saw the world as a child, using abstract forms and vibrant colors. I chose digital art because it allows me to achieve the brushstrokes and style I want, making it easier to use the vibrant colors I envision. Combining digital drawing with clay sculptures adds a tangible, three-dimensional element to my work, creating a more immersive experience for viewers. I aim to use these techniques to bring childhood memories and perspectives to life in a new way. Through my art, I want to invite viewers to reconnect with their sense of wonder and curiosity. I hope to remind them of the beauty and simplicity of seeing the world through a child's eyes. My goal is to inspire a rediscovery of optimism and appreciation, encouraging a fresh perspective on the everyday wonders of life.
Materials: Digital drawing and Animation clay
Banned and Buried
- Kenzi Fong
In the 5 and a half months from January 2024 to the time of writing this (June 2024), 553 bills have been proposed, and 53 passed so far this year, in the United States of America - with the sole goal of stripping transgender individuals of their right to self expression, self determinism, healthcare, participation in sports and so much more. A portion of those proposed this year are written behind the figures. I encourage you to look up some of the codes and read some of the legislation for yourself.
The war on trans youth is perpetuated by a constant cycle of fear mongering and misinformation. As of 2024 no transfem athlete has ever won first place in a major women’s sports tournament, however this theoretical “biological advantage” has turned our existence into a culture war topic, with perpetuation from people like Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson.
The fight for trans people's right to exist rages every day, our rights to participate in culture and a comfortable daily life stripped from us for no reason other than hate.
Materials: Acrylic Paint on Canvas
After the End
- Krystal Kao
"After the End" is an artwork about the complicated human emotion of greed. The artwork is made based on a patient and his family members, greed is a complex emotion driven by a desire for more wealth, power possessions beyond what is necessary even for family members. To create this piece, I used half-animal, half-human creatures standing beside a deathbed. Each of these creatures symbolizes a specific aspect of greed. In my artwork, the bunny symbolizes guilt, eyes around the bed, and frustration, brain in the middle is the wealth, and power that make animals greedy. I challenged myself to learn and build clay sculptures utilizing materials such as wires, tin foil, etc. Through this work, I hope to communicate and visualize my life experiences, depicting the dark side of people to the audience.
Materials: Tin Foil, Wires, Animation Clay, Acrylic Paint
For My Mom
- Jasmeen Saini
'For My Mom' is my first portrait painting dedicated to my mother! State portraits are traditionally made for individuals of royal significance, but I believe my mom deserves the highest honour. To me, painting someone is the greatest compliment you can offer, so I decided to create a portrait of the most important person in my life.
Referencing a photo of her when she was my age, I tried to capture her youthful essence as realistically as possible using oil paints. My work is inspired by M. V. Dhurandhar's art style, but I initially drew inspiration from the 'Wattle painting' of Queen Elizabeth II by William Dargie.
I wanted the painting to have realistic muted colours while reserving the brightest shade for the sari. The flowers surrounding my mom are meant to frame and represent the love and beauty she carries with her.
I couldn't have asked for a better muse.
Materials: Oil paint, acrylic paint, canvas
Unbound Beasts
- Rudy Niwatsukino
My piece is an explosion of my mind in to the physical form. Unbound Beasts is a sculpture of monsters surrounding a grotesque person in the middle, with each monster being a twisted personification of an emotion as follows: Anger, sadness, happiness and tranquility. I want to express how each of these emotions when left unchecked, can turn in to an uncontrollable monster that swells within our mind; and when not dealt with, will eventually take over, consuming us in the process, leaving us as monsters, living on instinct. Take a moment to think about how you’re doing, and ensure your emotions are in check, don't let them get the best of you, else they consume you too.
I chose sculpture as a medium because I liked to create with my hands as a child, using materials such as LEGO, and Playdough. So this a culmination of all my past creations.
Materials: Clay, Coloured clay, LEGO, Tinfoil
Glimmer of Hope
- Mayrin Kongsaensee
The source of inspiration for my artwork comes straight from my upbringing as an only child and having to rely on myself and navigate through tough times on my own as a kid while my parents were overseas. That experience really taught me to look inward and reflect on the current situation and how to pick myself up from it. I want to channel this concept into creating an affirmation art piece that can be a source of motivation and encouragement when things get hard.
My hope is that this piece will offer viewers that same sense of awareness when they're facing difficulties. The affirmations that I've chosen to include are meant to be grounding, reminding the audience that their thoughts and words hold so much power in shaping their reality.
Just like my own journey has shaped me, I believe this art piece has the potential to inspire and motivate those who are on the path of self-discovery.
Materials: Acrylic Paint
Mynd
- Daniel Jeon
My art exhibition project "Mynd" is a piece that takes the concept of my mind. What I drew on the paper is a peek at how my brain flows when drawing the piece. It could be a reflection of how I am feeling, what I am listening to etc. When drawing I didn't do any sketching beforehand and went straight into the final pen stroke to embrace the concept. I was heavily inspired by highly detailed ink drawing I would come across in social media that really makes me fascinated and curious on how they brought up the texture come to life in the piece. I would like the audience to feel what I felt being curious and overwhelmed by the piece. I will each drawings connect in a way making it a whole new feeling looking at the whole artwork.
Materials: Ink Pen, Ink Paper
The Black Hand
- David Majstorovic
I have decided to do my art exhibition on Gavrilo Princip, a Serbian revolutionary who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Duchess Von Hohenburg on June 28th 1914. This event resulted in World War 1 starting a month later.. Nicknamed The Black Hand, Gavrilo was only 19 years old at the time of the assassinations.
Since I am from Serbia and Gavrilo Princip is well known and still talked about in Serbian families to this day, I decided to represent him in my sculpture.
The idea for the sculpture is to represent how a single human being could change the trajectory of the entire world. My art piece is a hand holding up a monotone and broken globe which depicts the destruction following the Black Hand’s actions.
I chose to display golden butterflies circling the sculpture to represent the butterfly effect. I decided to wrap the broken globe with vine representing how Mother Earth is trying to recover and heal herself.
Materials: Hand Casting Kit, Wooden Display Board, Butterfly Stickers, Globe, Art Glue, Squishy Ball
downtherabbithole
- Darlie Elizondo Pulido
This piece is a collection of images that exist in the back of my mind—some memories, some dreams, and some ideas. I’ve always been fascinated with liminality and how our brain produces dreams and distorts memories, so I wanted to explore this concept by creating a series of pieces that are as fascinating as they are uncanny. Each piece is meaningful to me, and I could tell the story behind any of them. But beyond the actual meaning of the paintings, I aim for viewers to feel a sense of nostalgia. I want to encourage them to reflect on their own experiences, recalling the feeling they get when they just woke up from a dream and all they can remember is a compilation of blurry images as they try to piece together the full story.
Materials: Oil pastels, acrylic paint, color pencils, watercolors, markers, paper and cardboard.
Photodump
- Nitish Dutt
I have created a collage/self-portrait using Polaroid photos of my friends and classmates. I enjoy exploring who we are and what shapes our identities. These are not just random pictures; these photos show how we are all linked together and how anyone can shape you into the person you become. I’ve always been interested in life and how we are all connected. This project is my way of putting together bits of my past, present, and dreams for the future. Using photos of my friends and classmates felt right because each photo has a story, and each photo in the collage is like a piece of who I am. The self-portrait comes from the centerpiece. The blank/white center can represent how light and dark play a role in shaping who I am, and it shows how everyone is keeping me whole.
I hope that this piece brings joy and laughter to those who encounter it. It’s vibrant and funny, and it reflects my desire to bring positivity to people.
Materials: Polaroid photos, Gel filters
Concealed
- Matthew Welt
In “Concealed” I was inspired by a Japanese proverb “Mitsu no kao”. It translates to “Three faces”. It is the idea that every person has three faces (or masks). The first face is the one you show to the public world, the second face is the one you wear while in the company of friends and family, and finally, the third mask is the mask you never show anyone except for yourself.
The tape used in the sculpture can be interpreted as layers of skin. For the posing of the sculpture, it is meant to be a neutral pose to ensure that the viewer is focused primarily on the meaning of the 3 masks.
I think that the proverb is true in the sense that we cannot truly know how another person can be, due to all the unique and different experiences that we live through in our personal lives. No one can share the exact same feelings or thoughts as you.
Materials: Tape, Masks
