It is always hard to start, whether to fall asleep, to wake up, to compose a paper, or to create something new. I always consider so many things during the creation process and that makes me hesitate. Should I use the inspiration that comes from Universe Sandbox? Should I use cardboard to make this project? Should I add mathematical concept into my artwork? Should I try doing stop-motion animation? Deadlines are not comparable with a great idea in terms of the motivation that they can provide to me. However, on the other side, I am easily falling in love with anything. As a design student, when I struggle through the threshold, my ideas will nourish my project and gives it spirit, then the process suddenly becomes enjoyable. Today I want to fall in love with myself because I always forgot to do that. It not only motivates me but also gives me the confidence to start the reflection of my first year of a creative career.
I am Tianyou (Alex) Wang, born in Beijing, raised in Jilin City, Jilin, finished my high school in Vancouver, and now ready to embrace my second-year Design and Technology course in NYC. Proudly speaking, my first year allows me to find my style.
Every teacher opens up the class by helping us see ourselves. Thus, to create some childish but genuine self-portraits are inevitable. It is a great way to start. Here are some versions of the self-portraits that I have done in different classes.
Spoiler alert, if you scrutinize them, you may already found out what type of person I am.
Why do you keep reading? What attracted you so much?… I am just joking. Alright, there is no way to stop there since you will feel so disappointed. However, I do not want you to build up any expectations for my following projects and improvement, because that is the way to enjoy the surprise.
Black and white, geometrical patterns, symbolism, continuity. Yeah, those are the elements that feature in my portraits. In the beginning, I do not believe in them; I do not think they can represent me; I do not like my style, because they look so shallow, so generic, and so playful. I love the work by M.C. Escher, and I want to become him, but what I have here are not what I want my art style to become. There is a monster living deeply in my heart yelling: ” Alex, do something useful, but not some worthless art because of you wanna finish the assignment! ” I agreed but then suddenly angered because I feel that my dignity and my purpose of life is defied: ” You do not know anything about me, although I appear to be black and white and emotionless, I am sweet deep inside. Black is the absence of all the color in imaging, but it is also the combination of all the color in paint; white is the absence of all the color in painting, but it is also a combination of all the color that we can absorb.” I look at it with my raging sight:” You know nothing about me, although I appear to be rigid and have such empty spaces that are waiting to be filled in, I am made by one continuous line; although I look so pixelated and washed off, I am always observing and making connections with the surrounding world. I learn. I create. I reflect, and I insist. How ignorance you are to see things so shallowly?” I am proud of my self because I rarely stand up for myself. The monster kept silent for a long time: ” What you said is right. It is good to have some levels of understanding about yourself, but ideas worth nothing. You need to use the ideas and your self-identification to create something useful to the world, or to something that you genuinely care. There is one more thing, always remember, be yourself, but not someone else. ”
But the question persists, what is the component of my mind?
My first 3-D project is a giant “Reflector,” I do not want to use the word “Mirror” because it is flat and simple. This is the first time that my artwork reflects my interest in math and physics.
My intention to create this piece is to show my identity is the result of the reflection of the environment where I have lived. In other word, It shows the components of my mind. When I put on the vast mask, the first spontaneous reaction is to touch it, follow by blindly moving around. I instantly realize that there is a boundary which gives me a sense of fear between me and the outside world, so I want to touch it, to feel it. Then, I trying to see the world using my hand-made periscope, but what I find out is, everything is distorted. This is how I believe the way we interact with each other, we are made of everything that we have touched, seen, and experienced but in a distorted way. Does that help me to understand who I am? Yes, now I know I am an easy-influenced person, but influenced by what?
My answer is simple: technology. Any technology, you name it, from the mechanism of bicycles to the construction of bridges, from the theory of electromagnetic force to Einstein’s equation, from the tutorial of photoshop to the assembly process of a computer. I am interested in anything that involves technology. I use technology so much in my later artworks, so that makes every hand-made piece extremely valuable.
A wearable sculpture, a computer monitor, a shackle, or a giant necklace. Whatever you call it. It depicts the coexistence between concentration and obsession. This complicated relationship suggests that being constrained by something could also be addictive, or being addicted to something can generate confinement. Regardless of the logical order, they could help to create concentration and productivity.
Software plays a vital role in helping me execute a lot of my imaginations. Here is an example of how photoshopped artworks tell my story:
These are two artworks that “shot” form different perspective but illustrating the same story. (To find out more about the story, please visit the website: https://portfolio.newschool.edu/tianyouwang/2018/12/07/bridge-4-final/ )
As I continue exploring how technology can interact with artworks, I move on to the field of video making. Here is a video made by After effect. Aftereffect has the magic to move everything digitally. It makes letters not only can convey information verbally but also visually. It depicts a giraffe on his way to find love. Although I made the ending open and did not include any results, I can say that I have already found what I am genuinely in-loved. (The full video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76i-N0fX_8M)
It is hard to start, but it is more difficult to stop once you enjoy the process.
It is my pleasure to continue exploring the world of digital artwork during my second semester. Thanks to my teacher who let me find my style.
Here are two examples of my digital artworks. Picasso and Van Gogh inspire them. We can also see the real-life reference of the two digital drawings. It is delightful to play around with different digital tools and experience the interaction between them. The outcome seems very positive and encouraging to me because I can see my imagination is emerging from under the screen.
Here are some more examples that show the developments of my digital drawings.
Red Crazy Hair sally charcoal sally electric Sally Smoke countour countour2 Fabric Texrture ICON Neon octopus Rainbow 2 realistic
Finally, at the end of my journey, I create a piece that combines every valuable detail in my first year. The process is not only about learning a new technique but also finding the missing piece of my puzzle.
I want to share with you all the process that I use to create this piece. They are screen records.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIacoCR2hXWxM4_-24MfsEAWprGfyvc9/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oCGn18ZQcgOZKk1ksB9GNDPvsINXz6Dz/view?usp=sharing
So, here comes the question: now, what is the point of creating digital artworks? Well, you can keep asking like this as I move on to different fields of art forms. It is an endless cycle. It seems that the purpose of the existence of this artwork is to complete my Drawing and Imaging course, but the truth is, I have found what I love. This piece of digital artwork will speak for me that I am ready to explore in the era of concept design.
After the first year study at Parsons, I could proudly say: I am Alex Wang, and I am professional to be myself.
