Yuting Wang
Intersection
Intersection was an exhibition held in January this year that included me, some of my classmates and other artists who come from outside of college. One of my classmates arranged the whole show and selected the work. The collaborative curation and installation was helpful to build my skills of curation and negotiation. It made me consider different aspects of how to construct the whole exhibition step by step. For example, concerns of elements including lighting and wiring of electronic facilities.
On the PV night we each gave an artist’s talk. This was the first time I spoke about my work in public. My presentation took me two minutes, I attempted to be confident and speak directly to my audience, instead reading from notes. The people in the audience were also artists, they gave us feedback immediately and then we discussed together. Also, when I listened to another artists’ presentations it helped me to build my professional skills, with examples of how to introduce artwork.
This show took place in the Kaleidoscope gallery. This is located in a local library, where they have regular visitors every day. Our marketing strategy was to utilised their noticeboard to advertise the show, plus relying heavily on active communication with the library staff who would recommend our exhibition.
Ashurst Emerging Artist Prize 2017
This year January, I participated this art competition. I submitted three of my paintings and artist website. Later on April, I was selected in shortlist and got useful feedbacks from judges; they helped me to rethinking how to write artist statement, what kind of document is professional. And then each of shortlisted artists prepared an interview to talk about work. Also we had a group show in Ashurst gallery. In the PV party, I had a chance to talk with judges and other artists, which was different from talking with tutor and classmates. They barely know you, so I need much more clearly and logically to speak my idea. In the end, I win this competition and got the main prize. It gives me more self-confidence. Those valuable skills and experience can help me to build my career after I graduation.
1” show
1” show was our first exhibition in MFA year. The space was limited, so we decided on a size restriction for each piece using various themes and media. Before the show we had meetings to discuss each stage what we should do.
Dealing with the limited space and also a small size, was a challenge for me. My paintings are always big. I have never tried to create a smaller one before. I decided to submit photography as my work, not the media I am used to working with, but this still had a strong link with my central theme.
I also helped to write the press release of the exhibition, after I read many examples of articles. It is beneficial for me to practice my writing skills. But still I need thank Dan, who helped me to check it, or I could say he rewrote it again,
Crypt gallery show
In the second academic year, we had a group exhibition in the Crypt gallery In The Shadows of a Subterranean River. We separated different group members to play different roles. I participated in the marketing group to take the photograph for the poster. Other members were in charge of press release, mailing list, promotion, banner or some design work.
Since the title of this show refers the word ‘shadows’ and ‘river’, I needed to find or build a scene that can reflect this kind of information imaginatively. I also needed to link with the atmosphere of the gallery itself. I chose Thames as a subject, and took many photos in the night. This offered various versions for the poster design.
I also edited the Chinese version press release that advertised our exhibition to the Chinese art platform. I also completed a report of the exhibition, including the artist contact details.
Residency of Canary Wharf
During the summer holiday of 2016, I had the opportunity to participate in a residency at Canary Wharf, which was organised by two of my fellow students.
We had an office room for working space in Canary Wharf. It was a long commute everyday and difficult to take heavy stuff to go there just for one month. I needed to consider what media I could work with in that space. The introduction of the building site was a fantastic experience. This was the first time I had been so close to a large construction site to observe the building process. It was interesting to get an insight into modern techniques of construction and the planned development of the site. For me it was an ideal way to gain some fresh ideas.
Combining the uniqueness of Canary Wharf with my practice was an opportunity absorb new source material and develop new work
Each week we got together for a group critique, meeting and discussing work with artists from outside of the college. At the end of the residency we put together a small show of our work.
Park 16
This was a group project that involved 16 artists from across the MFA course in Wimbledon College. It was a series of works in which each member in this group developed a design that reflected their unique cultural background. Using sequence numbers to mark locations around the suggested area, every artist chose one to work with. These marks can be followed on the map and internet as well.
The work comprised of a walk from Cannizaro Park and appointed areas, we walked around these locations to observe and research to pinpoint the specific location that could link with our individual idea. This allowed me to directly touch with many subtle things that are easily ignored in daily life. It is more like a journey of discovery.
Antony was the organiser and he shared the technique of the casting. The work itself was not difficult to finish. We had a specific showcase separate from other artists’ or groups’ work with each plaster cast assembled together in the project space.
Corridor show
Charlie and me was partner to do the corridor show. This period of collaboration allowed me to gain new skills, to listen and discuss with the people who have different opinions. Through such experience you absorb valuable information and learn to respect other perspectives, particularly as my collaborator is from different field of art practice and uses another art language.
Since the corridor is a limited space, we needed to consider how to work with this specific space, how to design the structure according to the measurements, and how to combine our work together. It was a challenge for me to work with 3D, as I am a painter. I enjoyed this opportunity.
We designed our corridor show to build a virtual forest, by using yarn to hang seeds and little pieces of branches. To finish this complex structure in such a short time, every particular details should be considered in each step of the plan. There are various methods to achieve the final effect, so we took care to make each step properly and precisely. We also needed to deal with the seeds collection since the time was limited. Although we prepared very early with some help from friends, we were not able to collect enough seeds to create the effect we wanted. This made me consider material preparation when time is limited and the possibility of alternative solutions.
