Psycho-geographic map of Union Square
We had journey in Union Square and recorded sight, smell, touch, sound.
Then we shaped the route we went with sound waves.
Sound waves show the vibrancy of sound as we walk.
And we divided into several parts to show close look to each parts.
We attached pictures and sound of that moments and explained the experiences.
I got up at 10:30 to take a shower and prepared to go to school. It was raining hard outside so I felt that today won’t be an easy day. Then I arrived at time in class for space & materiality and professor let us do own work for 3 hours. So I headed to Blick to buy shining metal for my project. Then went to workplace and tried to cut the wood. I got caution from the officer that I am working with the tool too hazardous. After getting my things done for today, I went up to the class and class ended. Then I went to Stuy dorm because I had 4 hours left before the seminar class starts. I ate and ate and ate with Hyo-Jin. And we came to class with some guilty mind that we ate too much.
Peer to peer – Shifting Perspectives: Assemblage
In order to adapt to an unfamiliar environment in a different country, individuals often struggle with the crisis of assimilation. In this sculpture, we elaborate on the concept of assimilation derived from displacement. The masks are covered by American, Chinese newspapers, respectively. Masks symbolize protection and disguise, whereas newspapers are one of the predominant media where ideology and information from a culture are spread. Therefore, this imitates how people construct different, or even fake, identities when they experience cultural rifts. These masks look almost identical to each other, which further emphasizes the idea of assimilation. The surfaces of the sphere and masks are uneven, which demonstrate a sense of incongruity when we are trying to adjust to the cultures. The sphere in the middle represents cultural rift, and the red forks that point out suggest a sense of danger and discomfort, just like how people feel when they are going through assimilation. The cups attached to the sphere are burnt, and it is just like how some unique cultures are damaged because of assimilation.
A girl sitting in the Cafeteria, is in bobbed hair with saturated red color. She had food unopened in front of her but not eating as she was waiting for her friend to come and eat with her. In the mean time, she kept holding her red case phone with tedium. She wore black hoodie in creepy prints on the front and also the black pants and the shoes. She seems to like funky style with red and black. She had no make-up on her face pursuing the natural look as a student. Looking like under 21, she is adapting to university as we all do right now.
Different cultures and different languages were the most challenging problems for me to deal with. I know that I need to be independent and know how to take care about myself. In the metro area, it is totally different from China. I always take the subway to school so it was especially hard for me to get through all the congestion of traffic and the comprehension of subway map. I get frustrated so easily in rush hour and it makes me mad when people bump into me while I am holding my Macbook and the huge portfolio bag. To speak with the challenges I am struggling with right now, I am suffering through all the overwhelming hardships to understand what I have to do with my assignments. I major in Fine Arts in Parsons, however, freshmen are required to attend other liberal arts to raise culture, and it is difficult for me to catch up.
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to my major session next year. I have been painting for 6 years as a hobby. I also graduated arts high school and learned fine arts that I’m walking on the path towards my life as an artist. My works are usually drawn in oil paint and I like drawing in dark and depressing atmosphere such as skeleton. When I’m working my piece, I feel free from all the challenges in this strange place and feel comfort as I’m in my home with my lovely mother and friendly father. Within this object, It also recall me of a watch that my parents gave me when I was young. I brought it with me in long way to New York, always take with me like a tattoo in my skin. It is specially kept in the small box so that It wouldn’t worn out quickly.
As an ordinary weekend, I woke up at 1pm. Now I am heading to blick to buy my materials for my next project. Then I’ll play game with my friends and have date with my lovely girlfriend. Being an International student for almost 6years, I got used to hanging out with my friends who fill up my loneliness. However, this object brings me to remembrance the day I traveled to Sanghai with my parents. I can commit that it was my most memorable moment in my life. I’m the only child, however, parents fill my void of loneliness with their lots of love, interest and support. I always feel like a blessed child and thankful to all their love.