# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create cinematic presentations, share them with a link, and collaborate with others in real time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Create cinematic presentations, share them with a link, and collaborate with others in real time.

# data[].attributes.body
I wanted to link the insecurity of being left behind to homelessness. Like the insecurity, living without a shelter exposes one to the surrounding environment, forcing one to retreat to a shelter (even if that shelter is just themselves). The hand grip and the semi-triangular composition was meant to illustrate this desire for a home. The rough-on-the-eye contrast between green and purple illustrates the poisonous environment and exemplifies the intensity of such an environment. Lastly, the hidden leg and shoe on the right side is symbolic of the idea of being at the “bottom of society”.

# data[].attributes.body
Most children, or us, are raised with encouraging words that can fool us into believing we are unique. I was raised thinking I could be anything and was capable of everything. Of course, this is not always true. This realization that perhaps I may not be “athletically” capable as opposed to other boys, for example, was something I struggled with for a long time. I wanted to transfer this semi-bitter emotion onto the canvas where red, the color of rage and (menstrual) blood, is something I wish to disassociate myself with, yet I need to come to accept and love.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Turning 18; 2022; mixed media: spray painting, fabric screen printing ink, acrylic paint, and dimensional fabric paint on canvas; 25 cm X 20 cm.

# data[].attributes.body
My Mandarin teacher told us a phrase Chinese people often use. It translates to “a girl reaching 18 is like a flower bud blooming, reaching its maturity with all its beauty. But how can being 18, a symbol of femininity, be good when it seems as though society condemns it, as seen in nations with strong son preferences? Influenced by the historical propaganda posters most commonly printed in red, yellow, or blue, I strive to create a semi-political piece that promotes the “agenda” that criticize this reality by incorporating an image of a tied up flower, unable to bloom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
1 Friend; 2023; Mixed Media: Acrylic paint and oil pastel on watercolor paper; cm X cm

# data[].attributes.body
I was stressed due to the academic pressure that formed after seeing my friends thrive. However, they ended up becoming a major support system for me, so I wanted to illustrate their impact on my mental stability. Inspired by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's color choices to emphasize certain states of being, the green flesh portrays fragility and sickness while being ironic as green is supposedly a symbol of vitality. Incorporating the green hues with the orange tones connotes a warning sign, signaling a "last straw." Yet, I remained strong because of those who stayed beside me.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Size & Medium: cutting board, paper, wire, plaster, air dry clay, cardboard, acrylic paint, aluminum foil paper 

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Size & Art Medium: 80 x 60cm; acrylic on canvas using palette knives, forks, and spoons.

# data[].attributes.body
Description:
Inspired by two art movements, Fauvism and Expressionism, Blue Frank was a painting that aim to create another portrait that could reflect the opposite of Frank Sinatra, at least the Sinatra in songs and albums. In most of his creation, the majority makeup ranged from songs about ordinary lives to happy songs. As a cultural icon of the 60s or so, most of his widely known songs illustrate an openness in positive emotions. And yet other songs containing sadness, stress, anger, envy, etc. were few in number. With the door-like shape behind the figure of attention (Sinatra), it create a sense of ligering, suppressed feelings of anger that maybe wasn't conveyed, to the public, or anyone. That is one of the many intentional aspect in which the painting was supposed to demonstrate.

Reflection:
There are undoubtedly many self-criticism I could list. However, considering Blue Frank was my reintroduction to the world of acrylic paints and large canvases, this artwork should be assessed very leniently (by myself of course).

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Size & Medium: 30cm X 40cm; paper, cardboard, glue, and flour.

# data[].attributes.body
Description:
This artwork reflects how money is deeply integrated within Tet (a celebrated holiday in Viet Nam) and its impact.

Reflection:
I think this artwork turn out pretty well. However, its meaning might be somewhat confusing and unclear. If I could revise, I would want to do focus on delivering the message better.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Size & Art Medium: 1148 X 1080px; digital painting.

# data[].attributes.body
Description:

The debate and research surrounding Mona Lisa's smile was the source of inspiration for this illustration. Although the beauty of art (I believe) lies within the subjectiveness of the artwork. It doesn't necessarily mean all assertions are true.

"She is happy."
"She is smiling."

Combined with humans' tendencies to pretend and merge themselves within with society, I was hesitant to believe that Mona Lisa was indeed joyful. Maybe there is something else hidden beneath her smile, something deeper feeling that even the greatest analyzer/psychologist/behaviourist will not know. This illustration was create to show that thought process in my head; to show how forceful it is to assert others' assumptions of someone's emotion on to them; to address to public overwhelming desire to prove her happiness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Size & Art Medium: 1500 X 1000 px; mixed media — illustration using pencil and paper & digital drawing and image editing.

# data[].attributes.body
Description:
To describe the painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci as famous is an understatement. The painting is considered to have an extraordinary value, and yet it's history and present continues to linger around thefts, possession of, and profits from Mona Lisa. For this reason, I wanted to appropriate Mona Lisa with Aphrodite from the "Birth of Venus" to give her this god-like feel.  The disproportionate scale of the hand emulates the sign of superiority, showing their control over something that symbolizes immortality and excellence. Along with the human faces (drawed blindly) in the background, it showed that even if she outshine all others, she will continues to be seen as an object with the existence only meant to boost others.