Project 08
Lifestyle
(2021)
This project explores the psychological impact of isolation during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
I
drew inspiration from Giorgio Morandi’s painting. By depicting everyday objects in my room, the works reflect on the
theme of belonging and identity.
The final presentation consists of five paintings depicting everyday
items placed on corners, shelves, cabinets, and tables in my bedroom.
The works were arranged across two studio walls to recreate a space
resembling my personal room. Compared with earlier experiments, the final
paintings use a restrained colour palette and simplified forms, creating a
calm and introspective atmosphere.
Figure 1
Title: Books and Table Lamp
Year: 2021
Medium: gouache on canvas
Dimension: 43cm x 44cm
Figure 2
Title: Laptop
Year: 2021
Medium: gouache on canvas
Dimension: 40cm x 50cm
Figure 3
Title: Bath Lotion and Shampoo
Year: 2021
Medium: gouache on canvas
Dimension: 27cm x 33cm
Figure 4
Title: Wash Supplies
Year: 2021
Medium: gouache on canvas
Dimension: 30cm x 30cm
Figure 5
Title: Bottles and a Few Sundries
Year: 2021
Medium: gouache on canvas
Dimension: 30cm x 40cm
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As a first-generation Chinese immigrant living in New Zealand, I
often felt uncertain when navigating different cultural environments.
Being far from my hometown and family gradually created a sense of
distance from my past life, while the pandemic further intensified feelings of
isolation. This project emerged from my attempt to reconcile these
contradictions and search for a sense of belonging.
The first two pieces of digital drawing were inspired by Vincent van
Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles. I portrayed the
personal space as a place of emotional refuge.
In my sketch practice, I
studied the compositional approach of Michael Craig-Martin and began drawing
the objects in my bedroom using clear contour lines and simplified
perspectives.
Later, I redrew the scene on paper and applied colour using gouache. High-saturation colours and strong outlines were adopted, while preserving the
three-dimensional presence of classical painting technique.
I then expanded the scale from paper drawings to canvas
paintings, and explored both gouache and oil paint, comparing their visual
effects.
As the practice progressed, the paintings shifted toward a
flatter composition and more simplified shapes, while still referencing the
natural colours of the objects.