Art History investigates creativity as a cultural and social force and influences global dialogues with critical insights.
Born in China, I grew up in Dandong, a northeastern city bordering North Korea. I moved to the U.S. with my parents in 2013. Influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures, I am fortunate to come from this background which fostered my unique perspective.
There is no clear line between the “self” and the “other”. The contradictions between cultures can reach an equilibrium. My areas of research include cultural exchange, cultural appropriation, post-colonialism, Orientalism, and posthumanism in visual arts, fashion, and museum practices. During my time at KCAD, I explored the spirituality and the psyche in both traditional Chinese landscape paintings and contemporary Chinese paintings, Orientalism in museum fashion exhibitions, the relationship between technology and humans in anime and TV shows, the cultural appropriation related to Japanese Lolita fashion and the kimono, a current fashion trend in China reviving the traditional clothing hanfu, and many more interconnected topics.
I minored in Digital Media and Museum Studies and have been interning at the Education Department of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. These experiences offer me first-hand knowledge of visual arts and museum practices. My academic goal is to strengthen dialogue, respect, and appreciation among global cultures.
What is your most memorable
experience at KCAD?
In summer 2018, through Studio Art College International, I went to Florence, Italy, and spent 5 weeks living and studying there. I learned about Renaissance Art in-depth, saw the gorgeous architectures, sculptures, and paintings with my own eyes, experimented with fresco, and made new friends.
What are your most
notable accomplishments?
I was employed by Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park as a paid Education Intern. I presented a research paper at the Grand Rapids Undergraduate Art History Symposium. I had an excellent GPA and was on the President's List every semester.