Maria Wang

Artist Statement:

Art asks questions. It exposes what's already there and demands the viewer to ask themselves to rethink, to feel something. My body of work may not be cohesive in medium or subject, but it is united in purpose: to ask the viewer a question. I try to capture a realistic take on my perspectives of the world: from still lifes whisked from my kitchen counter to grandiose themes of corruption or decay. I am, essentially, drawing who I am and what I think.

To do this, my art employs several concurrent symbols working together to send a message. Sometimes, the literal portrayal of something is enough, but unlike my coronavirus quarantine self-portrait's exacting mood, I believe abstract ideas can and should be depicted with symbolism. My political drawings primarily use the American colors as central symbols, whilst my drawings on decay and corruption use imagery of veins and vines.

To arrange these symbols in a way that asks the questions I want to ask, I spend time researching relevant imagery and symbols, sketching out thumbnails, and swatching colors in my sketchbook. For references, I look to the things and the people around me, taking pictures of my friends and anything aesthetic I see in my day-to-day life. Consequently, my art continues to reflect my perspectives and the experiences in my life.