Artist Statement

I still recall being gently scolded in elementary school for drawing during class, scribbling lines, values, and dots of graphite in the margins of textbooks until they became reflective. For someone who loved fidgeting, drawing was one of the few things I could do for a long time. But art has never been just a way to stay focused; it has always felt like an urge, something in me reaching out to bring a vision to life.

Through art, I learned to perceive the world in a different way. Edges, planes, depth, values, texture, light, gradients, colors, and shapes. This subtle shift in the way I see the world is evident everywhere: in the shades beneath an atmospheric blue sky, in the sun’s reflections, in the rowdy energy of pedestrians and the silhouettes they cast, and in the spatial hierarchy of man-made systems. Creating art helps me investigate the unnoticed details, using each piece as a vessel to solidify abstract concepts.

I dabble in various media, including poetry, photography, sketching, and model making. Each new medium teaches me a new way to think. Photography makes me sensitive to light and defining moments, like the emerald hue of leaves glistening in the sun. Poetry allows me to approach language freely, considering the rhythm behind words and their placement. In my recent projects, especially sculptural models, I’ve started adopting an engineering mindset, a process of collecting inspirations, morphing prototypes, revising, and returning to chaos before I call a piece “finished,” when it finally aligns with the vision in my mind.

I see art not as a solitary practice, but as a torch passed between generations. Reflecting on my journey, I realize I was never alone. I recall the enjoyment of those early art classes, where I learned from my teachers and collaborated with others to create. Now, as president of Art Club, I love fostering that same experience, igniting creativity in new artists. Art is a kindling flame, and I’m forever grateful it was passed to me, so I can pass it along to others.