Ailin Wong

My series focuses on the innocent world view that children have, and how it changes as they grow into adults. As they grow up, there is a realization that things are not as black and white as they once thought. They are met by the darker truth of a world full of hatred and despair, as opposed to the optimistic and cheerful world they envisioned. The stories we tell children are often censored, withholding the darker reality from them. As a result, they have a romanticized image of a fantastical make-believe world in their mind, and are disappointed when it doesn't live up to that ideal. As children age, their innocence fades, and the ideas of death become less far-fetched; this is emphasized by the inspirations for my artwork. The Victorian era and childrens’ storybook illustrations heavily influenced the way I styled my pieces. During the late 19th to early 20th century, death photography was a popular trend. Corpses were traditionally kept in their homes for a “mourning period.” These corpses were then staged and photographed to make it appear as if they were still alive. Families hid their grief by pretending everything was fine. My pieces are a reflection of this idea. Overall, the blood in my pieces portrays the loss of innocence. People may look happy and smile, but smiles are often facades meant to conceal our true pain and anguish.