Graduating student artists from Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS) recently had the chance to show off their hard work during the school’s IB (International Baccalaureate) student art exhibition. See the artwork by two talented student artists and their descriptions below.
Perspective
by Terry Kim
The body of my artwork’s theme is ‘Perspective.’ At first, the topic felt too vague for me. There are many types of perspective such as three point perspective or one point perspective, but through doing my art, I figured out how I would deal with this complex theme. An artist, I believe, should express their own thoughts and feelings in addition to representing other people’s feelings. Therefore, I tried to combine my own perspective with others and visualize it through my artwork.
Usually I use acrylic paints on canvas. This is because this style allows me to fix my paintings if and when I want to improve some parts. Moreover, I like to mix colors randomly and find my own style. I also used some 3D materials like mod-rock, glass, and magazines to create my artworks. Using a variety of materials is an important part of experiencing and developing oneself. So while I mainly using acrylic paints, I also tried to combine this style with different materials.
The artist who has influenced me greatly is Jean Dubuffet. His style of somewhat childish yet serious types of paintings has made me think about the diversity of art. He says that his works are from pure and creative impulses, which is not influenced by mainstream culture, which he thinks is killing the development of art. When I am creating my artworks, especially in abstract pieces, I try to find my own way of expressing ideas. I don’t want the viewers to fully understand what my artwork is expressing, because I think this limits the freedom art has.
Jing Sui Xin Zhuan
by Zach Wang
My theme comes from a four-character Chinese idiom ‘Jing Sui Xin Zhuan’. It means "the environment should change within the heart." I came up with this theme during a two-week volunteer program in Qinghai, west China. Qinghai is a province that is approximately 3000m above sea level. The school I volunteered at was located far away from the town with nothing but grasslands, mountains, and clouds all around. This place embodied the words tranquility and peace; there was no traffic, no lights, no pollution or anything else one might be accustomed to in this modern world. It was here where I felt truly like myself. I felt free to explore who I was, without having any external source or pressure to influence me. The time I spent there made me realize that people of any age should try and find their raw, innocent, and untouched side. This sprouted the idea of not letting the environment around you change who you are – to always stay true and be yourself.
During a private meeting in 2014, Mr. Ai Wei Wei and I discussed the possible ways that I could further develop my theme and he brought forth many ideas and issues regarding religion, society, and daring to be different. His kind, wise words were the source of great inspiration with many of my artworks.
Throughout the IB course, I’ve managed to develop my skills of sculpture, casting, drawing, and video editing. Many of my works are sculptures created with mass cultural materials that I bought from local Chinese household markets such metal tubes, plastic films, and household gloss paints influenced by contemporary Chinese contexts. During many processes of creating artworks, I’ve also explored new media and discovered new techniques, which eventually helped me to make my work unique.
Photos: Courtesy of YCIS
