It was a sunny Friday morning after a long and jam-packed week of classes, assignments and responsibilities. Although the weather was bright and uplifting, I was feeling drained and exhausted. However, as I made my way over to the Art History Visual Art and Theory Gallery, I felt my spirits lift in anticipation.
Once inside the gallery, I received a paper outlining the set up of the Visual Art Undergraduate Exhibition. With no written information under any of the art pieces, the piece of paper acted like a map to match pieces to their creators, though the titles were noticeably absent. Even just at first glance, I felt like I had just walked into an exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Featuring pieces from second and third year visual art courses, the Visual Art Undergraduate Exhibition ran from January 27 to February 18, 2022. The exhibition displayed various pieces including sketches, paintings, sculptures, embroidery and one animated film. Although each piece had its own voice, the art collectively provided me with contrasting feelings of comfort and struggle.
The art seemed to reflect a tremendous range of feelings, from feeling trapped to feeling hopeful. Two of the pieces that encapsulated struggle were by Chengyun Wu. In these pieces, Wu used muted grey colours which conveyed the message of being trapped within one's own life. In contrast, a piece by an unknown artist featured a swing swaying in a pastel forest that emanated feelings of comfort and serenity.
Each piece spoke its own language and portrayed its own story, but put together, all the art provided me with the comforting realization that I’m not alone. Every student at UBC has faced hardships in the past few years, some greater than others, and this exhibit reflected that.
A sense of confrontation, anger, frustration and isolation seeped out of the canvases on the walls. Without using words, the undergraduate artists were able to outline exactly how living through a pandemic feels to students. The art spoke so we didn’t have to.
Most of us consume art daily, whether it be through music, television or social media — art is, and always will be, a major influence in daily life. I think it’s important to acknowledge the power of understanding and healing that can occur through creating and observing art. With each piece at the exhibit, I felt my nerves calm and my mind ease just a fraction more. The undergraduate visual art students at UBC seemed to speak to me through their art. It is clear that each artist created their artwork with honesty. Some pieces showcased the dark reality of the world, while others attempted to brighten this darkness. Both intentions were conveyed through the precision of the works, and both equally important visualizations of our world today. The acceptance of the truth and hope for the future exist parallel to one another.
The art exhibit was well-designed, easy to follow and provided a space of acceptance and hope. The artists will clearly be pushing forward the development and future of art culture, each individually providing a unique style, taste and message to the universal art community.
A virtual walk-through of the exhibition is available at this website.