Pain, recovery and loving again

Name: Hui Ye

Academy of Art University, Graduate

School of Fine Art Sculpture

Date of Presentation: 12/01/2015

Time of Presentation: 12:00pm

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Contents

Autobiography…….……….………………page 3

Resume………………….…….…………...page 4

Timeline………………….…….………...page 5-7

Thesis Summary…………..………………page 8

Thesis Project………………………..…….page 9

Thesis Photographs………………...page 10- 14

Influences……………………………page 15- 16

Promotional Materials………………page 17- 19

Statement of Future Plans…………..…page 20

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Autobiography

Alison Ye was born in China in 1990. She received a BFA in Ceramics from

Sichuan Fine Art Institute. She studies in the Sculpture Department of the

Academy of Art University in San Francisco to pursue an MFA in Sculpture.

She is inspired by her personal and friends’ love stories. She creates playful

characters in clay or metal to tell these stories. In 2015 she received the “Best

in Show,” 1st Place Award for sculpture during the annual Academy of Art

Spring Show, and she is one of the finalist of 2016 NICHE Award. She has

shown her work at the Carnegie Art Center, Sanchez Art Center and 49 Geary

Street gallery space.

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Timeline Fall 2015 FASCU_624_01- MS: Expressions in Clay

Instructor: Margaret Keelan

FA_631_01- MS: Book Arts

Instructor: Chris Rolik Spring 2015 FASCU_330_01- Sculpture 3

Instructor: David Duskin

FASCU_361_01- Glaze Technology

Instructor: Ben Belknap

FASCU_638_01- MS: Clay- Advanced Techniques

Instructor: Margaret Keelan

Fall 2014 FASCU_623_01- MS: Metals-Forging & Welding

Instructor: John Fick

FASCU_624_01- MS: Expressions in Clay

Instructor: Margaret Keelan

GLA_674_01- Professional Practices for Fine Artists

Instructor: Cheryl Coon

Spring 2014 FASCU_626_01- MS: Neon

Instructor: William Concannon

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FASCU_647_01- MS: Advanced Forging & Welding

Instructor: John Fick

JEM_649_01- MS: Modular Casting for Sculpture and Jewelry

Instructor: Jonathan Russell

Fall 2013 FASCU_620_01- MS: Figure Modeling

Instructor: Lawrence Noble

FASCU_623_01- MS: Metals-Forging & Welding

Instructor: John Fick

FASCU_644_01- MS: Final Project Seminar

Instructor: David Duskin

Summer 2013 GLA_612_OL1- Writing & Research for the Master’s Student

Instructor: Kate Winsor

Spring 2013 FASCU_637_01- MS: Metals- Foundry

Instructor: Michael Walsh

FASCU_638_01- MS: Clay- Advanced Techniques

Instructor: Margaret Keelan

GLA_606_OL5- Crossing Borders: Art & Culture in a Global Society

Instructor: Teddy Goldsworthy-Hanner

Fall 2012 FASCU_622_01- MS: Moldmaking

Instructor: Paul Graf

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FASCU_624_01- MS: Expressions in Clay

Instructor: Anne Stryke

GLA_602_01- The Art & Ideology of the 20th Century

Instructors: Paul Delevati, David Riffert

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Thesis Summary

Pain, recovery and loving again are three stages of my love life. I’d like to

share every bit of my feelings in a very quiet way by creating sculptures. In the

beginning, the painful memories of my personal love journey motivated me to

design playful ceramic characters and let them tell my stories. The process of

making fun fantasy projects took away my focus on the sadness and helped

me recovery my broken heart. Luckily, love found me again; I was so happy

that I couldn’t make any sad art anymore. I wanted to tell the whole world there

is an Alison wonderland that full of rainbows, butterflies, colorful bubbles, and

anyone can be a part of it.

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Thesis Project

During three years studying in Academy, I created 24 surreal sculptures based

on my thesis. Half of them are inspired by my personal dark love experiences

before midpoint, and the rest represented the new chapter of my loving life,

which is also my main focus right now.

I created different ceramic fantasy creatures and used their movements to tell

stories. All the stories were based on real personal love experiences. By using

surreal characters, I could share those memories openly in a secret way.

In this stage of my life, all I wanted is giving love, being loved and sharing love.

Being in an amazing relationship made me even more sensitive, creative and

open hearted than before. I gathered my resources from every part of

relationships I experienced or I heard about, the cute dates, the small fights,

the naughty sex, and even the loss of a loved one. I tried to use the power of

love to see every part of relationships in a positive way.

There was a difficult transition for me from being heart-broken to loving again. I

thought the pain was my power and suddenly I didn’t know what to make

without it. The only answer to my question was just be true to myself. So I

started creating sculptures based on my happiness. I felt even more excited

and motivated than before.

I care more now about details than before midpoint. Not only because I gained

more skills after lots of practicing, but also I wanted to use all the details to

show the personality and narrative of my characters.

Because my personal experiences are deeply involved, my works changed

after midpoint. I believe my works will always be different from one to another

because I wanted to be true to my heart. The only thing I would continue

working on my unique style and a good balance of negativity and optimism.

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Thesis Photographs

Title: To be continued- Alexis Title: To be continued- Alison Size: 10’’x 12’’x 11.5’’ Size: 7’’x 13.5’’x 7’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze

Title: To be continued- Elena Title: To be continued- Kelly Size: 7’’x 16.5’’x 6’’ Size: 8’’x 15’’x 7’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze, magic sculpt, aluminum, Acrylic Paint

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Title: To be continued- Prince Title: To be continued- Libby Size: 19’’x 47’’x 19’’ Size: 14’’x 7.5’’x 11’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze, Steel, Copper, Yarn Bronze, Magic Sculpt, Acrylic paint

Title: To be continued- Tullee Size: 9’’x 14’’x 7’’ Medium: Ceramic, Raku ware, Acrylic paint

Title: Home, home, sweet home Size: 18’’x 7’’x 5’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze, Yarn

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Title: Self-portrait Title: Flower guy Size: 8’’x 8’’x 1’’ Size: 7’’x 23.5’’x 7’’ Medium: Ceramic, Glaze, Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze Underglaze Acrylic paint

Title: Home is where you are Size: 13’’x 8.5’’x 7’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze

Title: Mr. and Miss. Mystery Size: 10’’x 12’’x 3’’ Medium: Underglaze, Ceramic Acrylic paint, ink, color pencil, wax

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Title: The sexy fight (Detail shot) Size: 20’’x 17’’x 9’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze, Glaze

Title: Shahde ( Detail shot) Size: 6.5’’x 10’’x 8’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglze, Glaze, Steel

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Title: You know the play dates

Size: 15’’x 12’’x 3’’ Medium: Ceramic, Underglaze, Glaze

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Influences

My first artistic influence is Gustav Klimt. I fell in love with his works in the very

beginning of my art journey. First of all, I admire the strong emotional

connections between characters in his painting. What’s more, his paintings

have a great balance of realistic figures and extremely decorative patterns. It is

hard to relate my style of work to his, but I also care about the emotions and

details in my work.

Die Umarmung ("The Embrace")

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My favorite contemporary artist is Mark Ryden. His art is cute, colorful, and

reminds me about a childhood memory, but at the same time, his art is dark,

twisted and sexual. Basically, his paintings led me to a surreal style. First, I

learned to control the contrast of bright colors on the cute characters and a

sense of dark humor. Second, his art taught me how to use interactive

characters to tell a story.

The Cloven Bunny

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Promotional Materials

Artist Statement

I’m searching for love, and wanting love just like any other human being. My

heart was broken once, but it never stopped me from believing in love. There

are many memories that I have kept in my heart. Among them are stories of

heartbreak, self-healing, and of finding love again on this journey. I have

always kept my feelings deep down inside of me, but I’m desperate to find a

way to express them. Creating art has become my language in telling these

stories.

I love letting my imagination run wild. I create different cute characters that live

in a fantasyland. They play out the real lives of my friends and I but in a

different world. Some of my works are based on sad memories, but still, I

choose to make my art playful and colorful to express my belief in love. I

always draw before I start sculpting because I enjoy creating whimsical worlds

inhabited by odd creatures. I like to translate these drawings into clay and

metal sculptures that capture my imagination.

Pain, recovery and loving again is not only my concept and my own story, it is

something that happens to everyone. I started by telling my personal

experiences, but after hearing other peoples’ stories, I realize that there is

more to tell. No matter if those memories are painful or happy, they all show

our true heart and this makes our stories meaningful, beautiful and special.

That is why I want to tell these tales, not only to create something fun and to

express my feelings, but also to find the unique memories kept in everyone’s

hearts and to share them through my sculpture.

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Business card & Post card

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Statement of Future Plans

After my final thesis project, I will continue working on my topic—relationships.

I’d like to keep being honest to my heart and letting my heart decide what is my

next piece. Life is unpredictable, thus, the narrative behind my art will

continually change. I truly love the idea that my works are growing along with

me. The only thing that won’t change is my passion of love and desire of

expressing myself.

My professional goal is having more opportunities to show my work in public. I

tried to go to local galleries that share a similar style as much as possible. I

have applied to as many group shows and competitions as I can. At the same

time, I work hard in my studio to make sure my art is getting closer to a

professional level.