After my tutorial with Jasminka, I’ve come to realize the value of taking small steps in testing things out. There’s no need to aim for a perfectly complete idea all at once, as that could actually diminish the opportunities for learning along the way.
So, I came up with the “London Art Creature Survival Manual” intervention. I invited Chinese graduate artists to create their perceptions of self-image during their transitional phase – whether it’s about finding self-balance or dealing with the anxieties of the unknown. This intervention drew inspiration from my previous collaboration with Shuang in the “Shape of Emotion” workshop. During that session, participants visualized their anxieties experienced while living in London through painting, followed by sharing their feelings, mindfulness painting, fostering a positive process of awareness-embracing-sharing-resonating. All participants were chinese art students and enjoyed this process. I tested and confirmed the effectiveness of expressing emotions through sketch, thus continuing this approach in my current intervention. Instead of group workshop, I decided on one-on-one connections this time, inspired by my conversation with Seema, which highlighted the importance of establishing meaningful individual connections.
Poster 1: ??? Who am I
Inspired by the Pokémon “Who am I?” segment. The background characters are thoughts and doubts collected from graduate：Insist myself/Adapting to the market / Not interested in pursuing art anymore / Seeking recognition / Like a dandelion / London is too expensive….etc
Poster2: Description of intervention
“Create a self-image,
It can be realistic/abstract/flat/3D,
It can be a combination of words/doodles/handcraft,
It can be human/plant/zooplankton/extraterrestrial/any peculiar species,
Anyway, however you like it – but it represents you,
Reflecting the moments of existential crisis you’ve experienced during
graduation season.For this journey, I’m only interested in what you’re
specifically going through and facing.
Don’t worry about how unusual the image might look,
Because perhaps, in the end, you’ll realize that we’re all somewhat alike.”
I will update the collected creations and their underlying stories in this post.
“I need someone who has been through similar experiences to give me some advice.”
“I also have practical concerns. I want to know how to find a job, like which platforms to use, interview techniques, and polishing my CV.”
“Unclear self-awareness creates this endless pit within. The edges are blurry because of uncertainties about the outside world.”
“I’m afraid to take action because I know there are many real-world obstacles out there.”
“My current plan is to find a job first, and treat my creative work as a secondary role. It might be slower, but that’s okay. What I want the most right now is financial independence and freedom. I don’t want my parents to foot the bill for my artistic pursuits. “
“I’m also not in a hurry to define myself. I used to focus on my own work, on ‘finding myself, being myself.’ But now, I want to go out and work. I want to temporarily step away from ‘myself’ for a while.”
“Originally meant a curving trail leading to a beautiful scenery, but the chinese character ‘幽’ also carries a sense of depth and darkness. Feels like my artistic pursuit; this path is full of thorns, yet the endpoint remains an unknown black hole.”
“All I can do is keep moving forward — who knows, maybe beyond the black hole lies a whole other world? Nobody really knows.”
“I feel like I’m filled with contradictions, and my true self has to stay hidden.”
“Sometimes when I feel like breaking free from anxiety, I head to the backyard to weed, soak up the sun, tend to the roses, trim them neatly, and then place them in a vase in the living room. Working in the backyard also lets me soak up the sun, and that really boosts my mood.”
“Exercising works the same way. All I need to do is start and focus on today’s workout plan and what I eat. When I’m thinking about these things, I forget about the anxiety.”