SELF PORTRAITS
A small collection of three self-portrait collage projects:
Self-Map (2020)
id vs ID (2021)
Untitled Self-Portrait (2022)
Self-Map
mixed media collage
2020
About:
Working on this project I started with a digital sketch and then proceeded to print out a handful of black and white images which I put together in four different "panels", each focusing on a part of the body. Once the panels were assembled, I added three-dimensional aspects along with the color red to add contrast. I painted over images with watercolor and acrylic in order to enhance certain pictures or to cover up certain portions of an image.
I used the technique of collage, because I felt it is an accurate way of portraying how my mind is at times because I tend to overthink things easily, so my thoughts are often in disarray.
The composition is primarily filled with pictures I had taken myself but I also found images of various things that I enjoy such as manga and manhua (Japanese and Chinese comics) to which I include them throughout the piece. I included three-dimensional aspects with origami/paper folding which is a traditional art in Japan with roots in China. The origami lotus flowers can be seen in the third panel and the flower itself is connected with Buddhism and symbolizes honor and longevity in Chinese culture.
Because the project was supposed to be a “map” of sorts I included string as a means of guiding the eye and attaching specific points. The first panel focuses on the head and the face while the second contains hand/arm imagery and so on. They are all connected with a single strand of red thread, weaving itself through each of the four panels. The red thread in Chinese mythology is associated with fate and connections with others. The other intention I had by using the red string was to show how everything in the work must be connected in order to make up the person that I am.
Medium(s):
paper, printed images, marker, acrylic paint, watercolor, string
id vs ID
mixed media collage
2021
About:
This project explores how we perceive ourselves compared to what we show others. It combines printed photos, photoshopped imagery, and digital painting tools to create a collage representative of who I am.
I tried to work with images that included the color red because it is one of my favorite colors and holds a lot of meaning to me. Red in China is a symbol of luck and prosperity. It was widely used among Chinese royalty and is still worn to bring good fortune.
Almost all of the images came from my camera roll or my Pinterest boards and I thought that it was perfect for the project because a photo library can display a lot about an individual's life and who they are. All of the figures and faces are split and fractured into pieces due to some issues I have with myself both mentally and physically. I do not typically take pictures of myself and my body because I have many insecurities regarding my image and how others see me. It is difficult for me to love myself and who I am, and I often wish I could change a multitude of characteristics that I have. I included the overlay on different mouths because I am a very quiet person and I wish that I had the confidence to speak my mind more often in the right circumstances. There are also references to my depression and my worries over financial stability. Many of the distorted facial and bodily features include drawings from Japanese and Chinese comics (manga and manhua) as I wanted to display the disconnect that I feel through pop culture. In the background, I included fans and a partition where I tried to bring in recognizable objects associated with East Asian tradition so that viewers could easily connect my identity with those images.
Medium(s):
digital painting, digital images, photo cutouts
Untitled Self-Portrait
mixed media collage
2022
About:
This self-portrait is a direct homage and evolution of the Self-Map that I made in 2020. It takes several of the same images used and transforms them into something "new". This piece is much smaller and more simple than Self-Map as I wanted to keep things more contained/concise. Once again, this work includes a collage of images that connect to my own interests and insecurities.
As a visual artist, I have created my fair share of self-portraits both in the literal and more abstract sense. The interesting thing that I have learned when making these pieces over the years is that they are continuously changing and evolving. Although they might all be portrayals of “me”, there are never two that give off the exact same energy. Current age, emotions, state of being, fixations, external factors, etc. all contribute to how I decide to generate a work of art representative of myself. Everyone is constantly developing and figuring out who they are at different stages of their life. The person you were five years ago is very likely not the same person that exists today, however subtle the development may be.
For me, collage work allows one to combine numerous existing artistic mediums and elements to make something new. Collages, because they can get chaotic and complex, I feel are an accurate way of portraying how my mind gets at times because I tend to overthink and let my own thoughts get the best of me. There is a certain vulnerability I like to express within my portraits as I believe it enables other people to connect with my art on a more personal level. In past collage pieces that I have made, I typically utilized images and materials directly from my own life. This could include printed pictures from my phone or camera that I have taken myself. I might also make use of photographs that I have collected, magazine clippings, paints, or decorative papers; all of which embody some aspect of my creative self and my own interests within them. I frequently favor making my work monochromatic with pops of bright red to add contrast, as the color red holds a lot of meaning for me. It is also a symbol of luck and prosperity in China, where I was born. I would take all of these materials/concepts to craft a composition that narrates and expresses who I am as an individual and as an artist. Images in collages are also often split up and fractured, much like how I feel when it comes to certain aspects of my identity. As someone who suffers from a lot of insecurities and mental health issues, it’s difficult for me to feel “in one piece” and confident about my present being. I think the beautiful part of a piece such as this, is that I could continue to easily add to/build upon it over time with new images and mediums. It could tell a progressive story of my ongoing evolution and display how everything has connected throughout my life to ultimately make up the person that I was and who I have come to be.
Medium(s):
wire, plastic bags, plastic bottles, cellophane, tape, string, marker, acrylic paint