ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
藝術家簡介
Ashley Guan is deeply curious about the mysteries of the universe. Mysticism and symbolism also fascinate her. They quietly seep into her work, adding layers of meaning. Through art and exploration, she seeks to bridge the tangible and the intangible. Her artistic practice was greatly influenced by the passage of time, personal growth, and spiritual interests, leading her to explore spirituality, inner self, and personal growth. She understands the importance of exploring the inner self in this era. Thus, these influences give her the sensitivity to catch subtle emotions and feelings in everyday life. Through printmaking, graphics, and interactive design, her artworks try to present the inner feelings and phenomena of the community by observing personal reflections. Symbolic visual languages, interactive formats, and reflective data from the community are usually applied in her works to create bridges between the inner world and the external world. She aims to create a safe space or a tool to guide and invite the audience to pause, reflect, and explore their own unspoken feelings and uncertainties.
HONOURS PROJECT
畢業作品
Print and ribbons
Poster: 220 x 150 cm; ribbons: 3.2 x 50 cm
We make wishes to gods, to the universe, or to ourselves. We pray for peace, success, love, and clarity. But beneath every wish, something else lingers: fear.
Wish Away invites the audience to pause. A large poster of soft light and shadow hangs on the wall. Five open-ended questions are embossed across its surface — not loud, not direct, but waiting to be discovered.
Beside the poster, red ribbons and pens are laid out. The audience is invited to write down their wish, then post it next to the question that speaks to them.
This act is simple, but not light. To wish away is to try to send fear elsewhere. Yet in this work, the wish does not erase the fear. It simply sits beside it — a quiet witness.
Through this small ritual, the audience is no longer hiding. They are facing it. Gently. Not yet completely.
PREVIOUS WORK
過往作品
This work is designed for those who feel anxious and stressed about everyday concerns, such as assignments, work, and relationships. It aims to offer them a sense of hope and anticipation. The first page serves as an instruction manual, and the remaining eleven pages feature images intended to inspire and offer a moment of daily divination. The book does not provide suggested answers, allowing each viewer’s thoughts to remain their own. Instead, everyone is invited to rely on their intuition and discover their own personal meaning.
This project is a reinterpretation of three novels by Romain Monnery, using illustration and typography to visually express themes of modern alienation, quiet rebellion, and existential absurdity. Each redesigned book cover reflects the emotional tone and social critique embedded in the stories—transforming words into compelling visual narratives.
In this book, the often awkward but universally shared experience of using the toilet becomes a surprisingly insightful journey into human psychology. Aimed at those who've ever had toilet problems and questions while on the loo, it blends humor, clarity, and clever design to help readers understand their toilet habits—and themselves—a little better. Easy to read, even with your pants down, this book turns bathroom breaks into brain food.