ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
藝術家簡介
Wo Tsz Man , Mandy.
As a student at the Academy of Visual Art at Hong Kong Baptist University, I create 3D handmade works that explore human experiences and emotions. Using materials like glass and needle felting, I craft pieces that resonate deeply with viewers, encouraging them to connect with their own life experiences. Each work reflects personal narratives and universal emotions, inviting the audience to delve into their feelings and memories. Through tactile and visual exploration, I aim to evoke empathy and understanding, fostering a dialogue between the artwork and its observer. My creations are conduits for emotional and psychological exploration, inviting viewers to find pieces of themselves within each piece.
HONOURS PROJECT
畢業作品
Needle Felting
30 cm x 52 cm x 36 cm
Dreams, with their kaleidoscope of emotions—ranging from fear to joy, clarity to confusion—serve as a rich source of inspiration.
My work, created through needle felting, uses wool’s intriguing texture to bring to life the nightmare monsters from my imagination. I aim to capture the wonder and fantasy of dreams, inviting viewers to explore their subconscious. Dreams, with their mix of fear, joy, clarity, and confusion, inspire these pieces. By transforming fleeting dream images into tangible forms, I hope to provoke thought and introspection. Could these visions be more than just imagination? Perhaps they are messages or reminders from within.
PREVIOUS WORK
過往作品
Glass blowing & kiln forming, 2024, 30 x 20 x 20 cm
Introducing “Happiness Changes of Childhood,” a poignant and introspective art piece that captures the emotional journey of early life through the lens of personal experience. This work features a candy machine, meticulously crafted using glass blowing and kiln forming techniques, alongside candy balls made from purchased materials. These elements symbolize the unadulterated joy and happiness of my early childhood, a time marked by innocence and freedom from academic pressures. At the heart of the piece is a gummy bear, also created through kiln forming, which represents the stark contrast of my emotional state as I entered the kindergarten stage. This period introduced new challenges, such as exams and tests, which I found daunting and disheartening. The gummy bear serves as a visual metaphor for my unhappy heart and the mood changes that accompanied this transitional phase of life. The theme of “Happiness Changes of Childhood” is a personal narrative that explores the various transformations experienced during early life, including mood swings, appearance changes, color shifts, and personality developments. It reflects a time when academic pressures began to overshadow the carefree days of early childhood. Through this work, I aim to document my own emotional journey and remind myself of the importance of continuous self-improvement and belief in one’s potential. Despite the challenges faced, the piece also serves as a testament to resilience and the capacity for growth. “Happiness Changes of Childhood” is not just a reflection of the past but a beacon of hope and determination for the future.
Zip tie x wool felting ,2023, 25 x 15 x 15 cm
“Comfort in Deterioration” is a compelling art piece that ingeniously blends wool needle felting and zip ties to encapsulate the profound societal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This work serves as a poignant reflection on the tumultuous period the world experienced, while simultaneously channeling a sense of hope and resilience. The use of zip ties in the piece symbolizes the pervasive entanglement and troubles people faced during the pandemic. These ties represent the constraints and challenges that bound us, both physically and emotionally, in a time of unprecedented uncertainty. They illustrate the societal struggles and the feeling of being caught in a web of anxiety and fear, much like the virus that seemed inescapable. Conversely, the wool needle felting technique embodies the concept of “filling the gaps” left by the disruption. Wool, with its warm and comforting texture, represents the resilience of the human spirit and the connection that continued to bind communities together, despite physical distancing. The long production time of wool felt mirrors the enduring nature of the pandemic, acknowledging the extended period of adaptation and endurance required by individuals and societies alike. The artwork conveys a message of optimism, with the aspiration that the Covid-19 pandemic will soon be covered and contained, allowing the world to return to a semblance of normalcy. The absence of masks from March 1st within the piece signifies a hopeful future where the virus is no longer a dominating force in our lives. “Comfort in Deterioration” not only captures the essence of a challenging era but also serves as a beacon of positivity, suggesting that through collective effort and resilience, we can overcome the adversities posed by the pandemic and emerge stronger.
Copper , 2024, 10 x 10 x 2 cm
Introducing “Alternatives,” a striking piece of wearable art that challenges the intersection of technology and traditional craftsmanship. Crafted primarily from copper using intricate handmade jewelry techniques, this earring design embodies a unique fusion of the old and the new. Its appearance is distinctly technological, featuring the form of a gun and a pair of movable, long geometric wings. This design choice is deliberate, symbolizing the encroachment of technology on the art of handmade craftsmanship. In today’s world, the rise of high technology has led to the obscurity of many traditional handcrafts, including glasswork and jewelry making. “Alternatives” serves as a poignant reminder of this shift, highlighting how technology is increasingly becoming a substitute for human skill and creativity. The earring’s gun shape and geometric wings represent the tension between the mechanical and the manual, between innovation and tradition. Through this piece, I aim to spark a conversation about the value of handcrafts and the importance of preserving these skills. I hope to inspire people to pay more attention to, and support, the artisans who dedicate themselves to these crafts. By understanding the intrinsic value of handmade items, we can appreciate the human touch and the stories behind each creation. “Alternatives” is not just an earring; it is a statement, a call to action, and a celebration of the enduring relevance of handcrafted artistry.