My Faithful Companion
oil painting on canvas;
45.5*33.4cm (17.9*14.9 inch)
This oil painting captures a deeply personal and reflective moment—me holding my violin. The violin holds significant emotional resonance. I arranged multiple images of myself playing the violin like photographs taped together to add a sense of memory and continuity to the piece. In the central image, I gaze outward in a contemplative manner while holding the violin. The violin shares the weight of life’s challenges with me, helping me process grief and finding solace through music. The warm, rich tones of the violin stand out against the darker, more subdued background, visually emphasizing its importance. I also wanted to convey my dedication and emotion to my craft. The violin is not just an instrument but a medium through which I express my grief and find healing. The rich, warm tones of the violin are contrasted with the darker background to emphasize its significance in my life and growth.
Grounded Violin with Wings
Violin 5
Violin, wire, quartz band, clay, sand medium, acrylic paint, wing model and feather;
80 * 60 * 52 cm
31.4*23.6*20.4 inch
This three-dimensional art with a violin with roots and wings is a deeply symbolic piece for me. I was inspired by Goethe's belief that every parent should give their child both "wings and roots." I wanted to present my violin as a powerful icon to my parents. I crafted the roots with wire, plaster, and clay. The anchor of the violin symbolizes the grounding and foundational values my parents instilled in me. For the wings, I attached cotton wool to represent the freedom and support my parents provided, allowing me to soar and explore the world on my own. The process of creating this piece involved intricate craftsmanship which was novel for me. From forming the beak model to applying sand medium on the floor, I tried hard to encapsulate the essence of my relationship with my parents. Rooted in love and nurturing, I was able to become independent and adventurous. I wanted to express how their legacy continues to support and uplift me, even if one of them is no longer present.
Violin as a Canvas
violin, character wrappings
64.5*19*15cm
25.3*7.4*5.9 inch
This work shows a fusion of my two creative worlds: music and visual art. I wrapped one of my old violins in illustrations of characters from video games and cartoons I used to engage with in childhood. The characters represent my nostalgia for childhood innocence, but they are not lost since they are attached to another relic of my childhood--my old violin. I also wanted to highlight my divergent interests through this mixed-media approach. While the violin traditionally represents a classical form of music-making, I wanted to bring out its storytelling element with the bold and colorful characters plastered across it, rendering my old violin a canvas for my visual creativity. This combination results in an instrument that transcends its typical function of sound production to become an emblem of personal expression. In essence, it is a celebration of the convergence within myself.
Concerto for Two Violins
pencil on kent;
35* 50cm
(13.7*19.6 inch)
I wanted to delve into the deep connection between the violin and the music it produces, specifically through the lens of Bach's Concerto for Two Violins. The piece visually explores the collaboration and harmony that emerge when two violins play together, symbolizing the power of unity and shared expression in music. I wanted to craft a drawing that represents the overlapping landscapes and sounds of the two violins. The use of pre-masking tape creates a layered effect as if the two violinists and their instruments are merging into one cohesive image. This visual overlap reflects the gradual blending of melodies and harmonies that occur when two violins collaborate in Bach's concerto.
A Yearning Hand
pencil on kent
139.4*54.5cm
15.5*21.4 inch
For my object portrait, I wanted to highlight a body part that is not only highly functional but also symbolic. Because I have been playing the violin for so long, my hand instinctively knows how to hold the instrument without holding the actual wooden piece. It is one of familiarity and proficiency. To emphasize this aspect, I tried to highlight the intricacies of the fingers, muscles, and tendons with meticulous details. The shading was to enhance the depth and texture of my hand, enhancing its tactile quality to convey my dynamic attitude toward music and life in general. At the same time, I also wanted to highlight the role of a hand as a symbol of human interaction. The extended fingers suggest both the act of giving and receiving—of offering help and accepting it in times of need. This dual role underscores the significance of human relationships and the mutual dependence we must exert on one another.