Reflection Project Statement

My name is Ji hye Debbie Kang majoring fashion design in Parsons. Back in my home country, South Korea, I majored Computer Science and Electronic Engineering but I found vision in art and decided to pursue my study in art from the basic. My vision is to let people feel the love, warmth, and happy energies  through all the works I do. In terms of art, I wish to achieve this through fashion which I think is the most experiential forms of art.

 

 

[Planning]

The Final research project or Bridge 4 was a memorial project. Upon hearing the theme I started as usual with asking simple question to myself, ‘What is memorial’,’What do I wish to memorialize’ and ‘What do I wish people to memorialize with me’. With these questions, I came up with the subject ‘dream’  and made two proposal in different directions. First of all, the dream I wanted to memorialize was the dreams and visions we had since our childhood but have forgotten in face of reality. The other dreams I wished to memorialize were the ones we dream every night but forget once we wake up.  Through the class peer discussion and another brainstorming, I decided to memorialize the first topic, the dreams and visions

 

[Outcome]

 

<Seminar>

In Seminar class, we were asked to search for 3 secondary sources and 2 academic sources that are related to the project.

The first source which was a book named “Generation Me” evaluates people born in 1970 through 90’s who are more ambitious and confident than people from the older generation, yet, ironically, living in a time where it is difficult than ever to get into college, get decent job and even make a family.

 

The second source was a article that talks about the result of the study that revealed that only 30% of people end up working in the careers they dreamed of as kids.

 

The last secondary source was a interview experiment named “ChangeDestiny” In the video, the participants believe that they are conducting a counseling session with the expert. However, the questions come from the children at the room behind through the mock counsellor. People, when asked about their dreams, talk  about realities that they have to face but the answers from children are simple and clear. After the counseling the truth is revealed and the participants are shocked yet brought back to the memories of dreaming as a child.

 

The first academic sources I found were  book named  “TWO Ego Cogito, Ego Meminí: I Think, Therefore I Remember.” and the author talks about relationship of thinking and memory in modern society as well as in the past in the light of Talmud. On the other hand, the second source which was a study named “Nurse or Mechanic? The Role of Parental Socialization and Children’s Personality in the Formation of Sex-Typed Occupational Aspirations.”  handles the influence to children in forming their dreams and future career. In relation to this, the study reveals that only 30% of the people ends up in the childhood aspired dream.

 

Number of wall texts as well as catalogue essays were also studied in class. Through the class activities where everyone shared catalogue texts and wall texts, I learned different approaches in expressing artwork.

 

<Studio>

 

In Studio, we were suggested to experiment various materials and make simple models of the final model. In this process, I used papers and printouts to make a mock-up model. Through photoshop, I tried to adjust and tweak the color of the background as well as build a ground for the installation. Then, background images from color to grayscale and the ground from black and white and real ground were experimented to see which one conveys the messages and visuals well.

 

 

Moreover, simple iPhone application was made to maximize the experience through the model. Like  what real model aims, the program was coded to make image dissapear when it is touched.

For the questions to be projected on the screen, I interviewed my friend who is a physiologist and get advice from her.

 

After the paper mock up and making of the application, final model was made and the phone was placed behind the door.

After the first critique, the painted  door was replaced with the pictured door and the image of a person opening the door was added.

 

 

 

 

[Reflection & Conclusion]

 

First of all, I realized again that the external sources can become a great inspiration and the support for the artwork. Although I enjoy reading different studies and articles and love to incorporate different psychological or technical ideas to my work, the researching part was never longer then making. However, through the study for my project, I learned to do deeper studies on the works and felt that this step is  an necessary part. Until now I used to make works of my interest or for my portfolio. They were usually enjoyed by people around me and this made it easier for me to convey my idea; people were more tolerant and understanding and  misunderstanding could be explained. However, as time passes, I will be making works for public of all different interest, whom I can not neither physically nor mentally approach one by one and explain my intentions and ideas. In this case, I believe the importance of research becomes crucial both to invite as much public as possible to the message I wish to convey and also not to mislead people when handling the real issue. Moreover, imagining that the project is going to be made in real, the location and the people in the area, the size of the memorial and even the time setting had to be studied. This allowed me to broaden my perspective from just thinking about the artwork to incorporating the artwork, environment and the atmosphere as a whole.

Through the lessons I learned from the project, I wish to continue thinking about how to invite people and plant a seed of thoughts regarding the messages I wish to convey. For sure, my aim will always be conveying warmth and positive energies through the messages, but I believe it can only be  achieved when I have good visuals and messages at the same time. With my own colors, I will try to enhance both  technical skills for expressing my thoughts visually compelling, and soft skills for making personal public and vise versa. Above all,  I will try to remember my dreams and visions and convey them in everything I do.