2/03/2018 With Barthes in mind, think about “Mythologies” that you encounter every day. This could be as specific as an advertisement or a food you eat for breakfast, or as broad as a snap judgment or stereotype you find yourself making.
Growing up, a stereotype I often encountered was “all Asians are smart”. Movies and TV shows portrayed their Asian characters as nerdy and math-obsessed. This had never made any sense to me, because I, as an Asian-American, am not “smart” and have always possessed a strong interest in art. I was never good at science and had always struggled with mathematics to the point where my teachers advised my mom to hire a tutor. When I was little, I thought that there might me something wrong with me and sometimes I’d feel embarrassed of my lacking math skills.
However, I can see where this stereotype comes from. In many East-Asian countries, professions such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers are highly respected. Becoming an artist is frowned upon. So parents would often push their children to do well and school. Unlike here in the US, students are pressured to be the best. You have to be number one in your class. My parents would always tell me about their school experience, constantly reminding me of how fortunate I am. First they had to attend regular school during the day, then at night, they had to go to cram school for another couple of hours, after that they had to continue studying at home. Students have to get good grades in order to get into the countries’ best colleges and that is where companies select their employees. When I was little, my grandma would often warn me, “If you don’t study, you’ll become a homeless person”. This expectation to be “smart” has its consequences. I have seen news reports of Korean students turning to suicide because the pressure to be successful was to much to handle. They are afraid of failure and disappointing their families. Instead of living, they would rather face death.
2/04/2018 Describe your ideal place to live and to work. Describe the design of your ideal studio.
If I decide to stay in New York City for work, my ideal place to live would be a small cozy apartment. I would want my apartment to be near a nice park and my favorite coffee shop. In my apartment, I would have a quaint, little kitchen where I would cook for my family and friends when they visit. My apartment would also have a little studio. In my studio there would be a window to let in natural light. I would decorate my windowsill with a variety of plants and flowers. My adjustable drawing desk would be positioned right by the window so that I can take breaks and stare down at the people below. I would also have a large bookshelf where I would keep all of my favorite comics and artists books. It’s important to be inspired by the works of other artists. I would also have numerous drawers, where my supplies are perfectly organized. Finally, in my studio I would have a separate desk for my computer and Wacom tablet, because after all, it is a digital world. On my walls, I would hang up prints of my favorite artists’ works and the posters of my favorite films. In a corner there will be a record player. I have always liked the idea of visiting record stores and collecting old records.
However, if I decide to move back to Los Angeles after college, I would live in a small one story house instead. The kitchen and studio would be the same was my imaginary New York City apartment, but there would also be a backyard with a beautiful garden because I plan on adopting a dog or two. In my garden, would plant herbs, fruits, and vegetables. My house would have to be less than hour away from work, because I absolutely dread driving.
2/05/2018 If you owned a gallery, what kind of art would you display? Would your gallery have a theme?
If I owned a gallery, I would fill it with artwork that has inspired me over the years. A few years a go, I saw a temporary exhibition at the LACMA that displayed all of the artwork Guillermo del Toro had collected over the years, as well as artwork from the movies he has directed. The gallery also included a series of his own sketchbooks. As I walked through the gallery, I could see everything that had inspired all of his movies. It was as if I was looking into the director’s mind. It inspired me to find artwork and learn about artists that interest and inspire me everyday. In my gallery, I would include paintings, drawings, and sculptures. The gallery wouldn’t have a single theme, but instead would be divided into different sections, showing the phases of creativity I experienced throughout my life. I would also include films, because movies have also played a big role in inspiring my artwork. In the future I hope to become a concept artist or a character designer for animated movies. In addition to the films, there will be music as well. In my gallery, there will be a small section of my own artwork so that the visitors can see how the variety of artists have influenced me. Like Guillermo del Toro, I would include a few of my sketchbooks as well. Through this gallery, I would want to inspire others who may have the same interests as me.
2/06/2018 If you were the subject of a painting, what part of your appearance would the artist focus on?
If I were the subject of a painting, a part of my appearance I would want the artist to focus on is my face. For a long time I was uncomfortable with my appearance. Growing up I went to predominately white schools. I was always the only Asian kid. For a long time I didn’t notice that I was different from everyone else. One day in second grade, one of my friends whispered in my ear, “Brandon said your eyes are small and your face is flat”. I was upset and confused. I didn’t know what to do, how to react. I had never faced racism and I was too young to understand what it was. I began to see how different I was from everyone else in my class, in my school. I felt more self-conscious. My classmate’s comment on my appearance had affected my self esteem. Additionally, as I grew older, I began to pick up on things in the media. I rarely saw Asian actors and actresses in the media. I began to assume that white meant beauty, so therefore I was not beautiful. For a long time I was sheltered from racism, which added to my confusion. I didn’t have the conversation on racism until ninth grade of high school. I have learned to embrace my differences and to be proud of who I am. I grew to ignore racist comments and not let them bother me. It is important to embrace who you are. I would want the artist painting my portrait to capture everything that makes me distinct.
2/07/2018 Can you teach art? Can you teach someone to be creative? How?
I don’t think you can teach a person to be creative, but you can teach them to learn how to find the creativity inside themselves. When we are in school, we are taught to follow the rules and that formulas and equations are the most important thing. Even when we are young, we were pushed to color inside of the lines. A single stray crayon mark was instantly seen as mistake. I believe that we are all born creative, but as we grow older, we are told that it wouldn’t be useful in the “real world”. People need to learn that perfection isn’t important and to follow their feelings. They need to forget about their fear of making mistakes in art. Mistakes should be embraced and welcomed. In art, you also need to practice daily. It’s like warming up a muscle before going on a run. I remember growing up, I was always drawing. I don’t remember a time where I didn’t have a pencil and paper in front of me. People can also learn how to use art to reflect their feelings. Art doesn’t always have to be a copy of the real world. Whatever the person is feeling should be released onto the paper. They need to forget about coloring inside the lines. Art a tool of self expression. There are no set rules in art. When you walk into a museum, you can see a beautiful rainbow of individuality. People begin to question: what is art? To be an artist you don’t need to go to the best school in the country, in the world. It’s all about how passionate and dedicated you are. If you are willing to be yourself, take criticism, and to grow, creating art should come easily.
2/08/2018 How would you describe your art to your family member? How would you describe your favorite artist to this same person?
I would explain to a family member that my art is a way for me to express myself. I have always been introverted and speaking my mind or my feelings has never been easy for me. Through art, I can show all of this. But at the same time, many of my drawings are quite random. Sometimes when I am listening to music or after I watch a film, I have a sudden rush of inspiration. Ideas and images begin to pop into my mind and I put them down on a piece of paper. Many of my sketchbook drawings are quite nonsensical, and at times not even I can explain their meaning. However, I do not have a set art style. I feel like I am changing every week. I believe that as an artist, I am able to raise awareness with my artwork. In the near future I hope to create posters to bring awareness to current issues, such as climate change, women’s rights, and animal rights. I also want to tell stories through my artwork. For the past couple of years, my dream has been to become a character or concept designer for animated films or cartoon shows. It would be amazing if I could one day see my character alive on the big screen. But I have also wanted to become a children’s book illustrator or an illustrator for The New Yorker. As for my favorite artists, I am drawn to different artists’ drawing and painting styles. I feel like everyone’s style is so distinct and unique, it is difficult for me to choose a single artist. I also admire artists who are able to express emotion through their artwork.
image: http://www.spyderonlines.com/picture/vintage_notebook_pen_photography_retro_sepia_bar_74943.html
