It’s grad season. And the Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Theory (AHVA) is wrapping up the year with a show.
Every year, the graduating fine arts students can submit their work to an end of the year exhibition. This year’s BFA/BA Visual Art Graduating Exhibition, Undergrowth, will be on from April 19 to 26 at the Audain Arts Centre.
The name “Undergrowth” is meant to represent the class of graduating students. It refers to the smaller plants, like shrubs or saplings, that grow under the canopies of larger trees in woods and forest. It's a fitting metaphor to use for a class of budding artists, still developing their practice, looking up at the artistic giants of our time.
But the talent of these students is far from undergrown.
Not only are students in the creative spotlight – they’re the ones shining it too. This department-wide exhibition is being organized by the visual arts students themselves. I had the pleasure of getting a behind-the-scenes look at the works in progress and to chat with one of the group members.
Olivia Qiu is part of the group behind the show. The student team is responsible for everything from concept design and catalogue creation, to the actual site installation for over 50 pieces of artwork. These students are part of a VISA 475 course that focuses on curatorial practices that help prepare students to put on art exhibitions. Olivia says the logistics of organizing an art show requires meticulous attention to detail but also includes rewarding teamwork:
“I’m glad I get to work with a team that’s passionate, and everyone is very self-driven – it’s almost like a student-led seminar. You learn more in a hands-on experience and can explore what can be done in an exhibition.”
Olivia is in a unique position of being both a creator and curator. But how different are these worlds?
“Being an artist is about having your art communicate for you. Everyone has great ideas, but it’s a matter of how you execute and present it – can the artwork speak for itself? Being a curator means you need to be a lot more mindful. You get to decide how the artists’ messages and voices work together as a coherent and collective exhibition.”
The BFA/BA Visual Art Graduating Exhibition is not only a platform for visual art students but an opportunity for students from all faculties (and for those who never knew UBC had a visual arts degree) to discover the breadth and diversity of talent on campus. Here are some works from Olivia and Ketty, who will be featured at the show, to whet your appetite:
Olivia Qiu
Cube in Cube | Resin, plastic, oil | 2017
Olivia’s work examines the interchangeability of matter; the transparency of the Plexiglass cube reveals the inner structure – another cube of resin containing oil. Her work prevents the transition between states of matter, as the inner cube, a solidified resin, is frozen in an unstable position, while its liquid, oil, can never evaporate. Cube in Cube uses its minimalist form to evoke a continual sense of stabilization and timelessness. Her interest in the materiality of art and having a minimalist lifestyle ubiquitous to Western millennial culture has shifted her practice in a new direction, which has led her to experiment with minimalist sculpture-making.
Ketty Zhang
True Colours | Inkjet prints | 2017
Ketty Zhang works with printed matter, and digital media to explore her interest in the diaspora, which is rooted in her immigration to Canada at the age of fourteen. Through amplifying and interrupting the function of everyday objects in critical and playful ways, her work reflects themes of (mis)translation, language, media, and the shaping of individuals by technology (and vice-versa). Central to Zhang’s work is the use of readymades: she combines materials from consumerist culture with the intention to invite discussions on diasporic experiences from historical, contemporary, collective, and personal perspectives.
These are just two of the dozens of student artists who will be featured – but don’t hear it from me, see for yourself and let the artwork speak for itself.
Check out the opening reception for the show at Audain Arts Centre on Wednesday, April 18 from 5 - 8pm – celebrations and refreshments included! The show will remain open for daily viewing from 12 to 5 PM until April 26.
