Mary Xu

“What is your favorite artwork?”

Curatorial Rationale

My vision is to represent the universal idea of grief, addressing the various human emotions and mental conditions one may experience in their lifetime. Each work has their own unique way of representing these, which may be depicted symbolically or through the use of other artistic techniques, such as utilizing a particular composition. I intend for my overall exhibition to bring clarity to such complex stages of life and to allow for my audience to learn to appreciate this experience as a whole.A variety of mediums have been purposefully used to suggest the idea that grief comes in different forms. Such materials include wire and plastic, acrylic, pen, colored pencil, watercolor, and digital art. A majority of the artworks incorporate bright, saturated colors to evoke vivid emotion. In contrast, few artworks utilize more neutral tones to represent a deeper meaning on their own accord.

These artworks are specifically based on the concept of the 7 Stages of Grief, which reflects the themes of shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, healing, and acceptance. However, various artists have influenced the art-making processes for every piece, including Andrew Cadima, Derek Dominic D’souza, and Lukas Moll.

Each artwork, with their own given medium and artistic techniques, represents a particular stage of grief, evoking a certain human emotion or mental process that may be felt during that stage. Additionally, the majority of works include a human figure so that the audience may be able to easily resonate with each of these stages.

The arrangement is purposefully out of order of the ‘set stages,’ reflecting the complexity of human grief and the idea that there is no absolute predictability regarding the mental condition. The formation of the artworks mimic a fibonacci sequence, which creates balance and harmony across the exhibition.

Although each work depicts very distinct messages, the overall exhibition addresses the idea that grief remains as an entire experience one may be able to reflect upon. With this body of work, I intend for my audience to further explore the 7 Stages of Grief and witness various, complex emotions. I also hope one understands that, although these experiences will differ among individuals, they are also what connects us together as humans.

Mary’s Artwork

  • Crows

    Charcoal on paper

    22.86 cm x 30.48cm

    Everything hidden by the night is exposed by the light of the moon. But the moon-bathed crow isn’t the only one that stands out. The lone crow sits on a barren tree branch, its gaze fixed at the viewer. It notices you.

  • After the Rain

    Ink on paper; Water color

    22.86 cm x 30.48cm

    In the cruel yet curious world that is nature, the naive rodent takes shelter in a poorly chosen place. To escape from the rain, the rodent has taken shelter under the vivid red mushroom, a bright target that sticks out like a sore thumb in the eyes of predators. Its unnaturally white coat did not help its case. The rain is not as much the enemy, as what it awakens. In this piece, we see through the eyes of a hunter.

  • Hidden in The Flowers

    Water color; colored pencils

    30.48 cm x 66.04 cm

    Hidden within the flowers is a singular orchid mantis. Its small pink translucent body blends perfectly into the pink flowers around it. The orchid mantis is a native mantis to Southeast Asia. Their pink color is from adaptations to camouflage into its vibrant rainforest habitat.

  • Going Towards the Light

    Digital Art

    1000 pixels x 1600 pixels

    I was inspired by the viral video of an angler fish floating up to the surface of the water before its death. I want to depict the theme of death and mortality through the angler fish’s poetic ascend. This act of going up is symbolic of the human belief of going to heaven after death. It is also a literal interpretation of “going towards the light” through the angler fish.

  • The Adventure of Pika

    Pencil on paper; Digital art using Krita

    20.32 cm x 20.32 cm

    This piece seeks to capture the brave and enduring nature of the North American Lagomorph, Pika. It explores the fantasy element of the life of a pika. In a world that’s so much bigger than the 7 inch creature, the small pika takes the role of the main character in this piece, bathing in the spotlight. I heavily referenced Albrecht Durer’s piece “the Hare”.

  • The Bird

    Acrylic on Canvas; Air-dried clay; Leaf printing

    60.96 cm x 60.96 cm

    I chose a mourning dove to be my main subject. I was inspired by “The Bird Song” by Noah Floersch. I want to explore the vulnerability of birds upon dangers imposed by humans through this piece, by having an arrow pierce through the bird. The piece is fall (autumn) themed because of the homonym verb associated with “fall”.

  • Unlikely Friends

    Acrylic on Canvas

    27.94 cm x 35.56 cm

    I was inspired by the reproduction cycle of venus flytraps. This piece is created with the intent to show the mutalist relationship between a Venus Flytrap and its pollinator, in this case, a bumble bee. It aims to depict the obliviousness of the bee of the danger that is lurking underneath it, within the plants deadly traps. The composition is inspired by Elden Ring’s cover art. The graphics team that created the cover art is directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, a Japanese video game director.