An Alternate World: An Artist’s Self Study on the Creation of Fantastical Worlds
Toni Shi
This thesis by Toni Shi was conducted as a part of Pratt ADE's capstone class, Curating Learning.
Curating Learning showcases the work of ADE seniors at the culmination of the program as they curate their experiences as artists, cultural producers, and learners. The research projects and related artworks created, emphasize student interdisciplinary connections and reflections on how knowledge is constructed and facilitated through teaching, learning, and curating.
Students integrate theory and practice through reflection and research in the field of art and design education. Students develop their voices as emerging professionals as they synthesize their learning in studio, liberal arts, art and design education, and pre-service teaching as well as co-curricular experiences in both formal and informal settings. Working across media and informed by their own research they created projects that ultimately highlight their perspective on integrating their learning across the studio, classroom, and community.
Curating Learning showcases the work of ADE seniors at the culmination of the program as they curate their experiences as artists, cultural producers, and learners. The research projects and related artworks created, emphasize student interdisciplinary connections and reflections on how knowledge is constructed and facilitated through teaching, learning, and curating.
Students integrate theory and practice through reflection and research in the field of art and design education. Students develop their voices as emerging professionals as they synthesize their learning in studio, liberal arts, art and design education, and pre-service teaching as well as co-curricular experiences in both formal and informal settings. Working across media and informed by their own research they created projects that ultimately highlight their perspective on integrating their learning across the studio, classroom, and community.
Artist Statement
The Gallery pt.1-7
Micron Pen on Paper
12”x 9”
4/27/21
March 11 20-21
Coloraid paper, Plastic, Book Board
6”x 4”
3/11/21
Author Richard Matthews (2002) talks of fantasy as a literature of liberation, that unlocks imagination. From the beginning of time, people have created fantastical creatures, stories and legends, and alternate realities. Since the end of the 19th century, the relationship between the personality and the work created by the artist has been a focus of interest for many. My interest lies in the intersection of these ideas, what makes the alternate world attractive to me and through the creation of my work, the goal is to find a deeper understanding between my work and myself. Why is the theme of another world attractive? In what ways is the theme of another world attractive to both adults and children, and ultimately, what attracts me to the theme? How does it inform my artwork? To answer these questions, I created a body of work centering around this theme and conducted a self study by gathering data through the entire artmaking process.
This solo exhibition of my work includes a series of drawings and a sculpture, totaling eight completed works along with documentation of my artistic process. The theme of the exhibition centers around the attraction of an alternate world. Throughout time, the theme of the existence of another world or alternate dimension has been popular within the art and entertainment industry as well as in various other studies including and not limited to storytelling, film, animation, graphic arts, etc. An example being the genre of Isekai within the Japanese anime and manga industry, which revolves around a character who is transported to or from another world, either fantasy, virtual, or a parallel universe. Through my studio based self study, the attraction to this theme is explored, looking into how one may use it to enhance one's ideas or to understand how one may perceive what is created. Viewers are called to think about what makes it convincing and what similarities and differences it holds to reality.
The body of work serves as documentation of my growth in understanding the allure of the topic as well as a gateway for viewers to follow along the entire process. The framework for my art making process is heavily reliant on sketching and ideation. Each step of the process is documented, from sketching to the points of production to the final piece. The documentation includes photos and video clips of work in progress. My findings derived from this studio based self study mention the attractive aspects of the theme such as it serving as an escape of sorts, the viewers or makers taking control over the happenings of what is depicted, and the freedom of option and opportunity it provides. For me, the idea of an escape in particular is fascinating. I realize in looking over the work created, the aspect of an alternate world being an escape is always present. In my drawings, the escape is quite literal through the story depicted and in the sculpture it physically serves as an escape with its structure. The stages of the development of work and inquiry centering around this theme will allow viewers to in turn ask themselves the same questions and come to their own conclusions as to what makes the work attractive and where exactly does their interest lie, allowing for the exercise of imagination, bringing to their visual repertoire something new and exciting.
Micron Pen on Paper
12”x 9”
4/27/21
March 11 20-21
Coloraid paper, Plastic, Book Board
6”x 4”
3/11/21
Author Richard Matthews (2002) talks of fantasy as a literature of liberation, that unlocks imagination. From the beginning of time, people have created fantastical creatures, stories and legends, and alternate realities. Since the end of the 19th century, the relationship between the personality and the work created by the artist has been a focus of interest for many. My interest lies in the intersection of these ideas, what makes the alternate world attractive to me and through the creation of my work, the goal is to find a deeper understanding between my work and myself. Why is the theme of another world attractive? In what ways is the theme of another world attractive to both adults and children, and ultimately, what attracts me to the theme? How does it inform my artwork? To answer these questions, I created a body of work centering around this theme and conducted a self study by gathering data through the entire artmaking process.
This solo exhibition of my work includes a series of drawings and a sculpture, totaling eight completed works along with documentation of my artistic process. The theme of the exhibition centers around the attraction of an alternate world. Throughout time, the theme of the existence of another world or alternate dimension has been popular within the art and entertainment industry as well as in various other studies including and not limited to storytelling, film, animation, graphic arts, etc. An example being the genre of Isekai within the Japanese anime and manga industry, which revolves around a character who is transported to or from another world, either fantasy, virtual, or a parallel universe. Through my studio based self study, the attraction to this theme is explored, looking into how one may use it to enhance one's ideas or to understand how one may perceive what is created. Viewers are called to think about what makes it convincing and what similarities and differences it holds to reality.
The body of work serves as documentation of my growth in understanding the allure of the topic as well as a gateway for viewers to follow along the entire process. The framework for my art making process is heavily reliant on sketching and ideation. Each step of the process is documented, from sketching to the points of production to the final piece. The documentation includes photos and video clips of work in progress. My findings derived from this studio based self study mention the attractive aspects of the theme such as it serving as an escape of sorts, the viewers or makers taking control over the happenings of what is depicted, and the freedom of option and opportunity it provides. For me, the idea of an escape in particular is fascinating. I realize in looking over the work created, the aspect of an alternate world being an escape is always present. In my drawings, the escape is quite literal through the story depicted and in the sculpture it physically serves as an escape with its structure. The stages of the development of work and inquiry centering around this theme will allow viewers to in turn ask themselves the same questions and come to their own conclusions as to what makes the work attractive and where exactly does their interest lie, allowing for the exercise of imagination, bringing to their visual repertoire something new and exciting.