Curatorial Rationale

Our minds and the events of our generation are filled with descending feelings and expressions of pain, loss, and unhappiness. Amidst this, I always try to look at the bright side of the things around me. My belief as a Christian enables me to do so.The process of exploring themes for my artworks and art exhibition was very challenging as I wanted to express my feelings, beliefs, and personal experiences as a Christian through my artworks. Due to this personal and diverse feeling or emotion, it was difficult to find the right words that could justify my belief and the evolution of my faith. The enlightened and soulful feelings of experiencing inner change and finding a sense of purpose encompases what I aim to convey to viewers as they explore my exhibit. I aim to utilize the message of my theme and artworks to allow people to leave my exhibition with an open and positive outlook on life and on the personal things they could be going through.

With my growing fondness for art and being able to express my emotions and feelings through different mediums helped me appreciate my journey in IB Art and the evolution of my faith as well. Throughout this two year journey, I’ve experimented with various mediums and techniques that allowed me to express my theme successfully and creatively. I was able to experiment with mediums such as Acrylic Paint, Watercolour Paint, Oil Pastels, Mixed Media, Paper Mache, Wire, Photography, and Digital Art. The experimentations with such mediums were chosen wisely in order to create an impact to the viewer and to enhance the intended effect and meaning of my artworks.

My chosen artworks encompass different points of personal growth I have experienced in my life and in my faith. My first piece, Soul, was inspired by the verse Isaiah 40:6, which represents the process of growth one undergoes to find happiness, love, purpose, and salvation.Similarly, Jeremiah 29:11, was also influenced by a bible verse; however, incorporating my personal hopes of being blessed in the future, seen through the images reflected in the eye. Eudaimonia and Guarded were the two pieces I experimented with the most using different materials. Eudaimonia is an Assemblage that conveys the imperfect journey of reaching the state of Eudaimonia and prosperity, while Guarded is a more personal Mixed Media piece that expresses my inner experiences about being hurt by others in the past, which taught me to guard my heart. Thoughts is very close to my heart as it is my most raw and personal piece, which shows my hand-written prayer I wrote during a challenging time in my life that is placed over a picture of my favorite meditation spot. Thoughts was additionally my first Digital Graphic Illustration piece which allowed me to explore an unfamiliar medium. I was able to explore this medium more with my piece, Memories, which holistically conveys the importance of having and making fond memories with your loved ones. Among my artworks, Feels and A.M. were the two pieces that were mostly influenced by my relationships and connections to my family members. Both pieces emphasize the juxtaposition between different aspects in our lives, yet also expresses the beauty of coexistence and commonalities between such aspects.

My exhibition is composed of several wooden panels that were painted black in order to accent and compliment my pieces. Spotlights placed above each artwork draws in the audience’s attention and enables them to view each piece intimately. The exhibit is laid out in a semi-enclosed format in order to present my pieces holistically, allowing the viewers to have a more personal experience within the walls of my exhibition. Fairy lights are hung above the panels of my exhibit to further emote a light and positive atmosphere. My exhibition not only culminates my IB Art journey, but more so aims to accomplish a greater purpose, to leave the viewers with a changed and enlightened perspective on their own lives through the messages of my artworks. I hope my exhibit inspires audience members to look at things the way I do through my belief and faith.