YU SUN | Pre-degree & Foundation Studies

Name: Yu Sun

Title: ME!

Progressing to UCA: BA Illustration

Dimensions: 297mm ×420 mm×6

Materials: Drawing paper, fine line pen

My final project aims to reflect the results of my self-exploration and self-analysis in these days through self-portraits. Unlike the minimalist style used in most of the line portraits, my work shows in surrealist style with modernity, through feminist and Marxism lens (also a little emotional reflection). At the same time, the use of fine lines is for enrich details. I show six summaries of self-exploration and self-analysis through created six pictures with an aspect in each. They are titled as: “About Death”, “Rules for Girls”, “When I Depressed”, “Solving a Rubik Cube”, “Break the Cage” and “Which Am I ?” in A3 size.

The idea was inspired by Freud’s famous psychoanalytic theory: id, ego, and superego. In his point of view, those three elements composed personality, which explain the formation and relationship between consciousness and subconsciousness. In order to cognize myself better, I explored my subconsciousness part further with his concept, which have a great influence on my self-thinking angles and drawing content.

Besides, in composition, I was deeply influenced by Frida Kahlo’s works, especially Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940) painting. Several symbols and concepts of this painting run through all her works, including plants, wild animals and suffering. I refer to her use of separate but coordinated elements to fill the background for the sake of a harmonious emotional environment.

My idea is developed in the process of this project, mainly through the sketches in my sketchbook. Before the beginning of the painting part, I drew ten sketches from different angles in the sketch book with relevant elements as extension. After selected six favorites, developing with sketches combined with my own life experience to extent the number of contents. After, in framing, I chose pearl white as the same color as paper, and my ideal photography background was white wall in vertical warm light.

Here is my artworks account on Instagram: https://instagram.com/sunyuuglywork?utm_medium=copy_link