Where am I? Where are you?, 2023
Inkjet print
71 inches x 44 inches
This is a collaborative artwork of 268 artists. I asked them to draw by giving the term “flower” as a prompt. Some of them drew twice and I got 273 flower related drawings at the end.
As an artist, I tend to avoid political topics in my work, but I also grapple with the notion that the personal is political. Politics encompasses government actions, public opinion, and the limits and freedoms we have in our lives. This means that even if politics isn't my starting point, my work may still carry political implications because it stems from my experiences in the world.
One of my professors once said that "everything is political, even if it's just a flower," and I found this intriguing. Despite the diverse backgrounds of the artists involved in this project, there were many common elements that emerged in their depictions of flowers. Interestingly, these similarities were less about cultural stereotypes and more about shared modes of communication and learning.
Although each individual flower artwork was distinct, when viewed collectively, they became small images that blurred the boundaries between individual and collective expression. This reminded me of my experience in a private high school where we were required to wear uniforms, which served to homogenize our individuality and weaken our sense of self.
Before embarking on this project, I pondered the role of "artist" in society and how artists define themselves versus how they are defined by others. While the traditional concept of an artist is a painter or sculptor, I believe that artists serve as recorders, expressers, creators, and leaders. Through their art, they document nature and human history, express personal and collective emotions, provide joy and inspiration, and offer thoughtful critiques of the world, ultimately leading society towards progress. As Marshall McLuhan famously said, "The Medium Is the Massage," and I believe that artists are the ones who convey the message. Thus, in this project, I challenged myself to step outside of my comfort zone, don an extrovert coat, and ask others to draw, ultimately creating a collaborative artwork that speaks to the power of shared expression.