Cover photo: Maree (Heeyun) Kim, Maree's Eggs, 2024, digital art (Procreate), 2048x2048px
Title: based on a Japanese proverb, Nana korobi ya oki
Statement
This exhibition includes a selection of projects from the 2024 English for Art & Design (EAD): Bridge to First Year program at OCAD University. Over the six weeks of this intensive program, students have been immersed in creative processes such as brainstorming, mind mapping, and sketchbook activities, all supporting an iterative project for artmaking, design, and writing. Students were asked to consider the context in which they are making art & design and to consider influences such as cultural and world events, personal stories, the spaces they inhabit, and innovations that have shaped their lives. Over our time together many different themes have emerged, but this year, we were particularly struck by our students' willingness to share stories of their struggles and hardships. For this reason, we chose the title Fall Down Seven Times, Get up Eight. This is the English interpretation of a Japanese proverb, 七転び八起き (Nana korobi, ya oki), which relates to resilience and perseverance. We feel this reflects our students and their determination to move forward despite the barriers they have faced. Welcome to the artwork of our EAD students!
About EAD: Bridge to First Year
English for Art & Design (EAD) programming is tailored for new incoming art & design students who speak English as an additional language. EAD: Bridge to First Year, our summer offering, is a six-week intensive that provides a pathway for English language learners who need to meet the language proficiency requirements for entry to OCAD University. Multilingual students who have met English language proficiency requirements can also participate in the program to get a head start on their first year.
The program offers much more than language learning. Students work with experienced instructors to build academic language skills that are specific to art and design disciplines, engage in creative and interactive studio practice, learn about university and OCAD-specific classroom cultures/practices, develop familiarity with different media, and build helpful connections to start their first year.
This year, the program involved 33 students located across the globe, entering different undergraduate programs at OCAD University. In 2024, our diverse student body included multiple first languages, including Mandarin, Korean, Burmese, Farsi, Japanese, Spanish, and Turkish. You can click on a student's name to navigate to their artwork or scroll to view each piece in the show.
More about English for Art & Design at OCAD University.
Our Team
This program would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of those listed here: Interim Manager, EAD: Shahriar Mirshahidi; EAD Specialist: Adrienne Reynolds; Program Coordinator, EAD: Elaine Munro; Discussions in Visual Culture Instructor: Jamie Ashby, Art & Design Studio Instructor: Adrienne Reynolds; English Language Learning Consultant: Sanam Bahavar; Instructional Design Assistant, EAD: Lex Burgoyne; and Student Monitor: Tasnimah Ahmed.
We also wish to thank other OCAD University staff/community members: Director, Teaching & Learning: Susan Ferguson; Manager, English Language Learning; Emilie Brancato; Writing & Learning Consultant (ELL): Phoebe Wang; Program Coordinator, English Language Learning: Courtney Gillatly; Program Supervisor, Writing & Learning Services: Stephanie Dayes; Educational Developer, FCDC: Travis Freeman; our colleagues who work in Admissions & Recruitment; Student Accessibility Services, and the International Student Support Office, as well as other colleagues in OCAD U administrative departments/functions for their support.
STUDENTS
Daniel (Qiuyang) Bai, Sergio (Shihao) Chang, Allen (Yilun) Chen, Sam (Ximing) Chen, Cassie (Xi) Chen, Jeongmin Choi, Andia Eghbali, Tommy (Youhe) Hou, Komo (Yaxi) Hu, Maree (Heeyun) Kim, Lively (Eunhyeong Lively) Kim, Chris Lang, Tiara Leung, Julian (Jian) Lang, Natalia (Dayoung) Lim, Carlos (Yuyao) Luo, Joshua Jongyoon Park, Flora (Sihan) Peng, Miao Qi, Ruby (Chunyu) Ren, Cenker Sezer, Shaw (Xiaoyu) Shang, Ruihan Sun, Aung Myat Thar, Alejandro (Eduardo Alejandro) Vazquez Morales, Hanbo Wang, Alana (Yueqi) Wang, Kerui Wu, Lucas (Lin) Xu, Zoey (Chang) Xu, Boya Yang, Villot (Meiliang) Yang, Wendy (Man) Zhong
Note: Participation in our online exhibition was not required, although all students did complete final artworks for their studio class. What is represented here is work by some of our class for EAD, Summer 2024.
THE EXHIBITION
Sergio (Shihao) Chang
In my part-time job at a coffee shop, I met many people who were unable to control their emotions well, and these emotions often hurt others. The women with great character in the paintings are hurt and crying, and the flowers around them make it all seem very dramatic, because I have met more people who are well dressed but don't match their behavior.
Allen (Yilun) Chen
Inspired by the growth of urban population, my artwork depicts a vibrant underground city. Residences, shopping mall, and a metro system thrive beneath the surface. This imaginative world redefines urban living, offering a perspective on how we can coexist sustainably.
Cassie (Xi) Chen
I took this photo in the Old Summer Palace. It is a place of great historical significance in Beijing. I had always wanted to experience the traces of history in person, so when I was there I seemed to break through time and appreciate the same scenery with my ancestors. I was deeply touched when I took this photo, standing in this historic place.
Jeongmin Choi
I saw paper as the human mind: once crumpled, it never returns to its original state. I imprinted my emotional and childhood experiences onto the crumpled paper, using footprints as continents. Over time, the paper smoothed out, and I integrated these traces into the artwork.
Andia Eghbali
Refuge in a Suitcase created with Procreate on my iPad, reflects my personal refugee experience. The suitcase opens to reveal hands holding a board that says, "I've taken refuge in a suitcase," symbolizing finding shelter and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear.
Tommy (Youhe) Hou
This is a drawing of what it was like when the Tower of Babel was found again many years after its fall. During the discussion of "innovation, global and cultural”, a classmate used the word "language" as an example, which immediately reminded me of the story of the Babel Tower.
Komo (Yaxi) Hu
Meeting shows the activities of my friends, during Covid-19. The five members in this meeting reflect the Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. And I show the cognitive needs through connection between the truth and a happy wonderland. Behind my camera, am I in the wonderland also?
Maree (Heeyun) Kim
My heart is as fragile as an egg, and my personality is as sensitive as fire. When fire and an egg meet, they become boiled eggs. The subtle differences in color express the fluctuations of my emotions. I have drawn many eggs to express myself and my difficult life. And life is a series of mental breakdowns.
Lively (Eunhyeong Lively) Kim
This artwork starts with me and showcases my life as an immigrant in Canada. Bright parts represent joy, while dark parts depict drawbacks. It illustrates life's duality through two reversible versions. The main element, the PR card, is overlapped with black and white patterns.
Chris Lang
I was inspired by the TimeLine assignment in studio class. I have a blood clotting disorder, which causes me to bruise easily. Recovering from trauma was painful and had lasting effects on me. Despite this, I seek to connect my body to the universe, embracing pain, bruises, and scars as part of my being.
Tiara Leung
Surfing the web is like traveling in a virtual world. I can be anything. I feel like I am the protagonist. My inspiration came from “Internet”. I expressed it by drawing myself listening to favorite music, wearing traditional costume, carrying a suitcase, with a spotlight on me.
Julian (Jian) Lang
In this work, I capture some natural landscapes on a bridge in the form of photos. This bridge connects the two sides of Rosedale Valley and also my memories from long ago. My work questions the interrelationship between human-made buildings with natural landscapes.
Natalia (Dayoung) Lim
I created the actor 'Tom Holland' from the famous 'Spider-Man' movie. I did photo modelling by looking at photos on the Internet and using them as a reference. I like Marvel action movies and want to create a series with Marvel actors. I am honoured to have the opportunity to develop 'Tom Holland'. Thank you.
Carlos (Yuyao) Luo
One of the slowest animals, when they can fly and become a "rocket", what will happen? I wanted to try something new when I was drawing it. Tortoise is one of my favourite animals, and they are cute to me. What's more, I studied some new culture and different styles in my course, so I wanted to combine my unique understanding of traditional Chinese charcoal drawing with my abstract style.
Joshua Jongyoon Park
Living in modern society, it's no exaggeration to say that I can't do anything without my smartphone. Smartphones are innovations that let us transcend time and space, from communication to shopping in our daily lives. I used colored pencils to illustrate the dimensions and lines of the smartphone with the curves of a charger.
Flora (Sihan) Peng
This digital painting shows me opening the curtain to find a flame and running towards it, reflecting my joy and excitement. The curtain symbolizes difficulties and a depressed mood, while the flame represents a new world and my goal. My passion bursts out like lava as I run towards the bright flame, hoping to catch up with it one day.
Miao Qi
The picture highlights the subject matter - a girl using a computer, who represents the young generation who use electronic tools to express themselves. From the picture, she can express herself and touch the world through electronic devices, but at the same time, electronic devices limit her, which represents the two sides of the electronic world.
Ruby (Chunyu) Ren
I gradually see what my heart desires on the way to finding myself, and I use the image of mushrooms to represent myself. Although I am introverted and shy, I will grow tenaciously and not be afraid of any difficulties. This piece expresses my exploration of the inner world.
Cenker Sezer
Innovative and functional suitcase of the future! Thanks to this useful suitcase I designed, travels are now more comfortable and fun. The main purpose of this design is the problems I experience during air travel. Thanks to this suitcase, I can carry 3 suitcases at the same time as if they were 1 suitcase.
Shaw (Xiaoyu) Shang
I was inspired by the first week of the self-portrait project. I used to be trapped in the shackles of achievement, focusing much on the results, ignoring the process. So in this painting, I want to express that the result is not important, process is what we should enjoy.
Ruihan Sun
This is based on the lessons we have learned about our own rooms. At the time we painted our own real life rooms and I was interested in this project. This time I fictionalized a room in my painting that I imagined and that I really liked. It doesn't take into account whether it can be reproduced in reality or not, but it's more like an ideal "secret base" in my imagination.
Aung Myat Thar
This painting can give many feelings like sad, warm, reflective, etc. I used acrylic, watercolour, and some fabric. I was inspired by the work of Berthe Morisot. I was really inspired by her because she made 242 artworks in her life, and I can feel the “feminine” qualities in her work. Because of these facts, I was inspired by her paintings.
Alejandro (Eduardo Alejandro) Vazquez Morales
Care for the environment and innovation are two themes that should be intertwined; however development sometimes comes before the well-being of the environment. My paintings represent the consequences and our reactions after these consequences.
Alana (Yueqi) Wang
I made a Wamao, which is used by people in our hometown to put on the roof to protect the whole family. Lotus symbolizes that everything can become good luck and the misfortunes of the past will disappear. I made this sculpture using clay, whether a lotus or a Wamao with a big mouth, they both mean good luck. I combined hem together to showcase my inner thoughts at this moment.
Lucas (Lin) Xu
Capybara is popular in our country recently, many people use them to make emojis, so I used it to design this painting. The tremendous pressure prompted the good-tempered Capybara to smash the wooden fish, reflecting the harm that some of the high pressure in society has done to people.
Zoey (Chang) Xu
When human beings are wrapped up in various material wealth, they show states such as hesitation, struggle, and anxiety. Eventually, the beautiful scenery ends up becoming out of reach and then people realize the preciousness of spiritual wealth.
Boya Yang
Indigenous discussions inspired me to show the Chinese festival. Four festivals: Lion Dance is lively, represented by the Spring Festival; sweet dumplings are Lantern Festival reunion dinner; Tomb-sweeping Day people put lantern in river to remember the dead. Mid-Autumn Festival people write wishes on sky lantern and fly it.
Villot (Meiliang) Yang
When I was young, I always dreamed about monsters in the night. I was afraid of these monsters and I would imagine hugging furry animals so I will not be afraid anymore. I used different media to create this animation about a young boy who fights his monsters.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
OCAD University acknowledges the ancestral territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinaabeg and the Huron-Wendat, who are the original owners and custodians of the land on which we live, work and create.
Thank you for visiting this online exhibition!