MCAD MFA

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Ning Kang ’14, Graphic Design

April 8, 2014

As a graphic designer, I use images as a vehicle to express my thoughts and feelings. In my work, I try to visualize the beauty and power of mundane objects in everyday-life, which is made even more enriched through the different cultural backgrounds I have experienced so far, the re-imagination of my daily chores, and people’s weird behaviors. Consequently, I focus on the exploration of these objects and experiment with evolving colors and shapes, as well as bringing these elements into collision with each other, and how those factors cooperate, negotiate, or even reject each other.

My works are mostly inspired by my observation of everyday life, things that we are used to which we but barely pay attention. I usually see my surroundings and my daily chores in my own unique way, which means I add some fantastical elements to it. For example, when I have diarrhea, I imagine that the intestinal virus is having a carnival. When I walk in a rainy day, I imagine the rain-drop fairies are committing suicide. These humorous and fanciful imaginary scenes amuse me and perhaps make my life a bit different from others, but also make these mundane daily rituals more interesting and fun.

In my latest work I’m specifically focusing on pattern design, which is the conceptual reflection of daily routines. During our lifetime, we keep doing the same things, such as doing laundry and going to work. It is the repetitiveness of these mundane gestures that builds up our lives, which I use it as the core experience in my work. Repetitiveness is not only the essential character of patterns, but it does represent those core experiences layer upon layer, in our tedious lives. I am fascinated by these patterns as they are both systemic and chaotic-it seems complicated at the first sight, but there’s always an order underneath. Through this project, I am eager to explore the possibility of pattern design, practically and conceptually.