Class of 2023
B.A in Visual Arts and Art History
My award has been allocated to further my undergraduate thesis research “In Between Spheres,” which encapsulates themes of identity and functionality through mixed paintings and sculptures. Through historical research and visual construction, this project explores the experience of being in between spheres. This research intersects the blur between design and fine art in the contemporary age from the perspective of multiculturally living between sociocultural spheres. Just as it takes a unique frame of understanding and empathy to move between cultures, it takes just as great of a mindset shift to move from antiquated modernist opinion into postmodernist thought regarding contemporary art. The goal of my artwork is to address these rifts in understanding and bridge gaps between both audiences. Building this portfolio served as an identity journey as I learned to integrate my four cultural heritages (Korean, Brazilian, Chinese, American), while joining two sub-fields I am passionate about: fine art (painting, sculpture) and design (product and user experience design).
This summer, however, my Benenson project progress was stalled due to a family emergency where I needed to prioritize other work over artmaking. I was not able to move into production in the summer, but currently I am back working on my first few sculpture pieces since my thesis work. I will extend my project deadlines into Spring 2024 and provide images of the final work to be included in next year’s online profiles of Benenson awardees.