My inquiry revolves around the idea of how I reminisce about our past selves and always feel a sense of nostalgia in everything that we see and experience. I asked myself "How can I identify nostalgic objects that are important to me?" and "Why do I find nostalgia in objects?" The emotions that nostalgia holds is what shapes and influences our current selves. In my inquiry, I try to investigate how nostalgia plays apart in my life and to find ways to express how I can integrate such experiences into my life by preserving and expressing them through items that I used to treasure as a child. Nostalgic objects resonate. By identifying my childhood like toys, memories and perspective, I can understand how my upbringing has shaped my outlook. (Image 1/2) I used a dear teddy bear, ripped its face off and replaced it with a new face of bittersweet memories. Expanding foam and acrylic explore imaginary childhood worlds (Image 3/4). Images 5/6 explore reincarnation nostalgia, circling into present self. Images 7, 12-15 explore my Chinese culture, fish symbolism, new years nostalgia associated with red packets, and revisions in images 14/15 reminisce the time spent with my Grandparents.
Teddy Bear Material(s): The main components used for this piece were polymer clay, acrylic paint and UV resin for the glaze Process(es): I took off the teddy bears face and moulded its inner and outer feelings to show its true identity.
Material(s): The main components used for this piece were polymer clay, acrylic paint and UV resin for the glaze Process(es): I revised my piece by using more vibrant colours in the actual piece and added beaded elements.
My Imaginary World Material(s): Spraying foam onto cardboard and building my imaginary world Process(es): A nostalgic piece where everyone can relate to with the colours, toys and textures
Material(s): Spraying foam onto cardboard and building my imaginary world Process(es): I experimented this piece by using expanding foam to create abstract cloud pieces to add to my land.
Process of Ouroboros Material(s): Leftover beads from a broken necklace, stainless steel wires to make the vines and the snake. Process(es): I shaped the wire around my head and over my face and coiled the ends to make them look like vines
Material(s): Leftover beads from a broken necklace, stainless steel wires to make the vines and the snake. Process(es): I revised this piece many times, going through different structures and went with a wrap structure.
How does a proper Christian view of the material world embrace or reject death (or both)? They do talk about embracing and rejecting death. For example, in Luke 23:43; Philippians 1:23 their soul immediately passes into the presence of Christ , but their body is left to decay. The main idea portrayed in these verses talk about how one's body and soul are supposedly created as one person and that when separated, only the soul can survive when Christians go to heaven.
How does a Christian view of afterlife, and the present Spiritual life, have an impact on how we create art while we are physically alive on earth? A Christians view of the afterlife can be seen through heaven and hell. Many Christians would agree that after death, they will be taken into the presence of God and they will be judged for the deeds they have done or failed to do during their lifetime. This will eventually lead to determining who can or cannot go to heaven. Hell has traditionally been depicted as a place of eternal fire that symbolises pain and suffering. This is seen as the result of the refusal to accept the happiness that God wants people to share with him thus from a Christians perspective, if one does not follow or find Christ, they will be condemned to hell. The creation of art when we are physically alive on earth can be seen through pictures that depict what the bible has to say about the past, present and our potential futures. The art we consume allows us to see other people's perspective and interpretation of how they portray Christianity.
How does a Christian view of life and afterlife impact how we use, enter into, or consume art? At least I would assume that when consuming and entering art, Christians would follow a more Christian point of view and find connections to what the bible says about the arts. Themes like judgement and many other lessons that were taught in the bible can relate to any form of art. And just like the skull “For the Love of God”, it could also show how art can be created for God and that people would want to honour him in a way where they can also spread his word and allow people to interpret his messages.
The Year of The Horse Material(s): Horse lantern I bought from someone, stocking, clothes hanger, wood, paint, lights Process(es): The abstract statue was made with a clothes hanger and painted the stocking before putting it under.
The Forbidden RingPop Material(s): UV resin, cast and mould, beads, glitter sequins, ring pop plastic ring that I ate. Process(es): I casted an abstract shape and used UV resin to attach it to the ringpop.
Material(s): UV resin, cast and mould, beads, glitter sequins, ring pop plastic ring that I ate. Process(es): Finding inspiration from a ringpop, I revised this by adding the resin part to show inner memories.
Swimming with The Fishes Material(s): Air dry clay, uv resin, two part resin and acrylic paint to make the fishes and the pond. Process(es): I used clay to make the pond and then made the fishes out of uv resin before glazing it in resin.
Material(s): Air dry clay, uv resin, two part resin and acrylic paint to make the fishes and the pond. Process(es): I experimented using two part resin in this piece to represent the pond and UV resin for the fishes.
Nian Nian You Yu Material(s): Transparent beads to show prosperity, string, leftover red money envelopes from previous years. Process(es): Weaving beads into a bag and folding red packets into the shape of koi fishes before attaching them
Material(s): Beads, String, Leftover Red Packets from previous chinese new year celebrations. Process(es): I revised this piece by trying different styles of fishes using red packets and used the koi fish.
Mahjong Mania Material(s): 3D filament, tinker cad, acrylic paint to make the mahjong sculpture. Process(es): I experimented with this piece by using a 3D making software to design the mahjong pieces and table.
Mahjong Mania Material(s): 3D filament, tinker cad, acrylic paint to make the mahjong sculpture. Process(es): Revision of cad model, printing it out and painting using acrylic paint to enhance tiles.