ART/DESIGN PORTFOLIO: ABANDONED REVERIES
ROLE: Artist, Designer
TOOLS: Refer to Artwork Descriptions
October 2022 — November 2023
TEAM: Individual
Art, to me, isn’t as simple as laying paint on canvas; it is about extracting profound ideas from simple objects and allowing my personal expressions to flow free with the tip of my paintbrush. My creative journey is a continuous exploration where reveries are born from the sparks of observation.
This portfolio aims to capture my unique artistic expression across various media, including graphic design, concept design, charcoal, and acrylic.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
ABANDONED REVERIes
ACRYLIC ON CANVAS| 30” x36”, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
As I embark on my daily journey to school, a familiar scene greets me each morning — an abandoned yellow bicycle, securely fastened to a weathered, rust-stained bike rack. Curiosity often takes hold of me, pondering who left it there and why they abandoned a seemingly perfect bike. While locking up my bicycle, the contrast of sunlit yellow against corrosion ignited intriguing thoughts. Interestingly, the bike's lock becomes a symbolic gateway to diverse interpretations, evoking ideas encircling control, limitation, and more.
Inspired by this ordinary yet captivating sight, I aimed to depict the intricate web of thoughts that have sprung from this bicycle, starting from this observational painting.
EXPLORATION/ DEVELOPMENT MINDMAP
CERULEAN PATHWAYS
PHOTOSHOP | 3586X1824PX, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
This piece draws inspiration from the bike, encompassing its form and components. The name, Cerulean Pathway, depicts the blue colour scheme and junctions between each element, evoking the multifaceted aspects of sustainable living and the interconnectedness of environmental choices. Just as the illustration itself blurs the lines between the two worlds, the artwork encourages individuals to find harmony between their digital aspirations and real-world actions.
The title of this piece, “Chained Peace”, is an understanding of our place in a world of conflict. In this piece, I strived to encapsulate the vulnerability of humans in the face of war, in particular, the urgency to avert warfare. Amid the physical destruction of man-made buildings, I formed fallen concrete into a semblance of a human face — fearful and anguished. Inspired by the bike lock, the chain holds diverse symbolism; constraints give rise to chaos, an insurmountable force brewed from the sparks of our souls. As victims and assailants, the disarray of war mirrors our own turmoil. Denied avenues for a peaceful resolution, mankind can erupt into unpredictable acts, disrupting not only the lives of individuals but the stability of nations. War, in its essence, becomes the amalgamation of restrained human aspirations, leading to a chain reaction of devastation that stretches far beyond the initial confines of the battlefield
CHAINED PEACE
CHARCOAL ON PAPER |15” X 22”, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
MOTION IN STILLNESS
PHOTOSHOP | 3485X2048PX, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
Click HERE for more details about this piece
PERISHED
PHOTOSHOP + PROCREATE | 1280X1658PX, INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
Using the typography from the previous design, this digital illustration depicts a shattered world. I strived to encapsulate contrast: that between a verdant realm contained within a glass hemisphere, and an external setting rendered inhospitable. The glass-encased verdant haven symbolizes our aspirations for an ecologically balanced world—unspoiled and harmonious. Conversely, the desolate external landscape starkly reflects the consequences of unchecked actions, where the repercussions of greed and conflict have culminated in an environment inhospitable to life.
This Grad Mural depicts the final message I derived from the bicycle: journey and exploration. From this, I wanted to carry a personal message — an essence of our collective journey through the ever-shifting tides of time and technology. At the mural’s center is a dynamic figure: its head is a digital mosaic, its upper body blending human and robotic elements, and its lower body a representation of any ordinary person. By this, I strived to encapsulate our transcendent journey — from the lockdown of grade 8 to the rapid digitalization defining our time— underscoring our collective resilience and rapid growth. The backdrop showcases a clock, its hands set at 8 and 4, capturing the halted moment of 20:20 (2020) and the irrevocable transformation it brought. This mural stands as an emblem of our class's enduring spirit and the profound experiences woven into all the graduates of 2024.
ACRYLIC ON WOOD | 5X5FT, SCHOOL PROJECT
TRANSCENDENCE
FINAL REFLECTION
Reflecting on the completion of my visual art/design portfolio, "Abandoned Reveries", I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and introspection. This portfolio has been more than just a collection of artworks; it has been a journey in discovering my ability to draw profound ideas from the simplicity of everyday objects.
Art, for me, transcends the mere act of applying paint to a canvas. It explores the profound, a way to let my expressions flow freely through the different artistic media. Creating this portfolio has been a deeply enriching experience. It has challenged me to look beyond the surface, to find inspiration in the mundane, and to express my observations and thoughts through my art.