Yuxuan
My body of work explores the ideas about self-awareness. My first pieces were inspired by my surroundings and architecture, documented by taking photographs, and I became interested in reflection, which I realized was an important aspect of later concepts in my work. I then explored deeper into the importance and necessity of self-awareness, considering nature and people, from the self to growth and emotions. My work has been quite experimental in the use of a wide range of 2D and 3D techniques in chalk, charcoal, clay, wood, modroc, wire, acrylic and mixed media to create an atmosphere that expresses the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the self. By first viewing the forms and structures in my work it seems quite disparate, but through all of them I aim to explore the different facets of self-awareness. I hope that the audience will self-reflect, enabling a deeper understanding of their identity.
For my work examining self-awareness, Johnson Tsang became one of my most influential artists - he expresses his emotions through exaggerated facial expressions made of ceramics in response to his experiences with his surroundings and people, influencing me to work with figures and faces. “Sleep”, “Mask” were inspired by him in their form and choice of materials - clay. My pieces representing natural forms express the multifaceted and complex nature of identity. The two pairs of series works "Whisper of Emptiness" and "Empty", both are influenced by Jean Arp and Barbara Hepworth with their smooth surfaces and organic pierced forms. The flow and change of emotion is expressed through the use of a sense of fluidity to the surroundings. The recently completed “Haze of the sea” and “Haze of the sea 2”, are two structures made from wire, which is one of my favorite materials to explore, with different shapes and structures created through the malleability of wire. This was influenced by Antony Gormley's work 'Sieve'; he created a number of human forms by combining wire and metal. Overall, my pieces capture a quiet, soothing, sad feeling because of the overall lack of color blended with gray and white.
The space for my exhibition is in a corner consisting of a longer wall and shorter wall, with two columns in between dividing space. "Haze of the sea" is placed in the center of my exhibition between the columns, as its large size and complex wire structure will immediately draw attention to it. "Haze of the sea 2" is placed behind the first piece on the longer wall to continue and highlight the idea of growth. Viewers can see the progression from the initial notion of fragility to the resilience and adaptability of the coral that also symbolizes the process of people's experiences influencing their self-awareness. My head piece "Emotion Factory" delves into the inner workings of emotions and thoughts, allowing people to think more deeply about their experiences, placed in the middle of the other pieces it makes the viewer pause and reflect. “Empty” and "Whisper of Emptiness" will be put near to each other as they are a series of works. “Empty” will further divide the space by its 3D form and with a light from the side to highlight the structure and shadow the shape. “Mask” is displayed vertically on one of the columns creating intrigue and leading the audience into my space.
The artwork intertwines themes of personal growth with the ever-changing landscapes of our lives, creating a narrative that resonates with viewers' own experiences. My vision behind showcasing these works is to create a space that prompts the audience to pause and reflect. My aim is to invite viewers on a journey of discovery, exploring the intricate complexities of human emotions and the continuous evolution of identity and nature. In addition to the viewer's thematic understanding, I want them to be struck by how much I have explored and experimented with different materials and forms and find connections between the different styles of work. For example, to be aware of my use of different techniques and materials, from detailed 2D works to abstract sculptures made with clay and wire.
Haze of the sea (November, 2023)
Wood, wire, acrylic paint, spray foam
109 x 152 x 72cm
This piece is inspired by the shapes of corals and their fragility. "Haze of the sea" emphasises the intimately and inseparable relationship that exists between human and nature. Each wire tells a story of interconnectedness, weaving together the threads of our shared existence. Degraded coral leaves behind a white skeleton, its fragility revealed through the intricate structure of wires. Inspired by Antony Gormley's work “Sieve". He formed the human body from wire and metal elements.
Empty (February 2022)
Ceramic and white glaze
31 x 21 x 35 cm
This two-part abstract sculpture expresses the fluctuations of emotion in self-awareness through form, space and structure.The structure of the sculpture presents a sense of fluidity, expressing the flow and change of emotions through the penetration and use of space. This fluidity implicates the change and development of our inner emotions. Inspired by Barbara Hepworth ”Oval Sculpture (No. 2)”, All of our work is ceramic, the forms are abstract and utilise holes in the design.
Whisper of emptiness (March 2024)
Wood, ceramic
46 x 45 x 2 cm
This work is an extension of 'Empty'. Through different shapes and forms, the series celebrates the diversity of people's experiences. This diversity reflects the richness and complexity of human experience, emotion and identity. Recognising that each person's journey is unique and valid, with their own story to tell. Inspired by Jean arp, we both use holes and smooth surfaces, and organic forms.
Mask (January 2023)
Ceramic, acrylic paint, wire, box
99 x 33 x 6 cm
This work metaphorically removes the masks we wear and encourages the viewer to confront the different roles they present to the world. It prompts reflection on how we see ourselves and how others see us. The exaggerated make-up highlights the contrast between our inner selves and our outward appearance. It makes people question whether their interactions and expressions are authentic.
Reflection (October 2022)
Chalk and Charcoal
50 x 65 cm
"Reflection" illustrates how our inner selves are reflected through our perception of our environment. As if there is an identical world on the other side of the window. The buildings in the reflection make us aware of our surroundings, this allows us to gain a deeper understanding of how our environment influences our thoughts and behaviour. “Reflection” is inspired by Thyssen-Bornemisza Madrid, as we both focused on the objects reflected on the glass, and shattered glass reflection.
