Samia Saad

Wall text as it appeared on the gallery wall.



A yellow sticky note detailing that the work will not be shown till June 12 is attached to wall text

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The World Back

Yolanda Xing

My VR project, "Journey of the Forgotten," is an immersive game that tells the story of a scavenger in a world where creatures symbolize human "remnants." The protagonist embarks on a quest to find their escaped "cat," representing a journey of exploration, growth, and self-discovery. As players navigate through various challenges and help others, they uncover what has been left behind and reflect on their journey. The story underscores the theme of realizing what is left behind, embracing the process of exploration and growth, and eventually looking back to start anew with all that has been gained. This journey is a metaphor for personal development, resilience, and the continuous cycle of learning and evolving. With the unique VR medium, this project aims to explore and challenge traditional representations of the body and movement in interactive environments. Utilizing the physical "virtual body," players can interact with virtual objects in ways that are impossible in the real world.

Large two-dimensional planes and rocks are suspended in air around you. A beacon glows in the distance.

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A large maze floats above you. A beacon glows in the distance.

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Rows of organic striped columns covered with eyeballs surround a green organic mass, that appears to be an entrance.

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Journey to the Forgotten

Yilin Liu

The project explores the notion that the potential of non-verbal gestures can serve as a form of textual representation. Focusing on the hand movements of listeners during readings of T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land,” this project examines how these unconscious gestures can become a self-referential language system that reflects and extends the context, narrative structures, and emotional landscapes of the original text.

The title draws directly from Ferdinand de Saussure’s theory: the 'signifié' (signified) represents the concept or meaning that is conjured in the mind when encountering a 'signifiant' (signifier), such as a word, image, or, in this case, a gesture. Just as each reading of a text brings forth unique interpretations, every gesture unveils distinct emotional and cognitive landscapes, suggesting that meaning is not static but dynamically reshaped in every interaction.

By considering these gestures as signifiers, "Signifié" investigates how they might develop their own meanings, understood and shared among viewers, thus potentially forming a new, communal language system. This exploration challenges the traditional boundaries of linguistic interpretation and prompts a reevaluation of how meaning is both constructed and communicated.

A Remington Standard Typewriter, from which a banner with abstract warped form semerges.

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A flat image of the abstract, warp forms.

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A close up shot of the abstract, warped forms.

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A spread from the booklet depicts an infrared abstract mass, across from two depictions of gloved hands holding a constellation.

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Three banners with abstract, warped forms stand behind a typewriter, from which a similar banner emerges.

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Signifié

Yifei Sun

"Long Wave" is a roller coaster experience designed with GDP growth data over the long run. The ride offers a journey through the highs and lows of economic fluctuations from the perspective of data points.

A cork board with different images and documents fixed with pushpins.

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A desk with two monitors where the game is being played.

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A desk with two monitors where the game is being played. Above the desk is a cork board with different images and documents fixed with pushpins.

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Long Wave

Yanwen Bu

This piece primarily focuses on the exploration of self-identity and family relationships, particularly how individuals placed within historical and societal changes are influenced to become the family member we recognize, thus shaping our growth. History doesn't solely consist of great events such as territorial expansions; it also leaves imprints on individuals, which are transmitted through family. I believe family history is crucial for all of us, serving as a significant component of self-identity and helping in better understanding ourselves.

My grandfather's autobiography documents various events throughout his life, ranging from significant milestones to mundane occurrences. It covers the hardships brought about by wars, the poverty resulting from them, the struggles of obtaining an education, and the necessity of fleeing to Xinjiang. It also delves into his relationships with his siblings and the everyday challenges of living amidst scarcity. It's this environment of his growth that molded the person I remember as resilient, calm, adept at handling interpersonal relationships, and always encouraging me to learn.


A person stand outside the front doors of a home nestled in a patch of bamboo.

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A person stands in front of cylindrical brick structures.

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Memoir

Xinwen Hu

"Scents of Time" invites you on an olfactory journey through pivotal moments in human history. This installation uses the medium of scent to bridge the past and the present, allowing you to experience the profound transformations of each era through a series of distinct aromas presented in five different vessels. Reflecting on the diverse impacts of these events and promoting a deeper understanding of their enduring influence on our world.

Three tables with vials of colored liquid. The spouts face out toward the audience, inviting them to lean in and smell.

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A person leans over a vial to smell its contents.

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Scent of Time

Viviana Castillo

Piece is interactive. Viewers can take off the lid and go through the inclusions found inside. Inclusions: Zine, Poster, CD.

Speculative album packaging exploring the concept of anger, frustration, sadness, and distress through visual language, materiality, and physical interaction. I aimed to explore album packaging conceptually and artistically, bringing forward the packaging as part of the conceptual narrative that would be expressed through the music. Initially, this project’s concept and visual language were completely different (I was looking to explore the unattainable idealized expectations demanded by society). However, the university’s violent response to students protesting the ongoing genocide in Palestine and the university’s involvement with it was abhorrent. And so, I reconceptualized my project, which now aims to capture the shared collective emotions - the anger, the frustration, the sadness - we have all been feeling lately, and the process of navigating through these sentiments represented by the action of physically interacting with the piece.

Viewers are holding the wrapped zine and poster.

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A podium wrapped in string with a similarly adorned box displayed on top of it. On the wall behind the podium, a poster with abstracted, web-like forms hangs. 

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A CD is shattered into multiple shards, placed on top of a poster wrapped with strings and a zine. There is an open box with lined with a dark, swirling pattern, and the lid nearby.

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Frustrations

Vicky Jen

As we leave college and step into the unknown, I often feel like I’m falling behind. The future seems uncertain without the familiar presence of my friends, our shared classes, and similar life stages. These pieces convey the isolation and silence of this uncertainty. While I believe there’s a path ahead for me, I sometimes feel like I’ve missed the last train or am behind a glass wall, watching others progress. But through these feelings, I’m learning to embrace my own pace without comparison, trusting that everything will work out in the end.

A persona stands under a streetlight next to a stop sign on a dark night.  It appears to be painted with long vertical strokes, looking almost like rain.

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The series of three posters are stacked vertically on the gallery wall.

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A person stands at a large glass wall, watching the lives of many other people.

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A person stands at the foot of a large, curling wave.

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Where to Now?

Tyler Varner

Surfing is my greatest passion. It has always been a way for me to connect with my family, friends, and nature. Surfing has also helped me navigate personal struggles with mental health, loss of loved ones, and even a global pandemic.  The ocean provides respite from worry; it creates a space for reflection, gratitude, and hope.  Paddling out for a quick surf is a guaranteed reset. 
 
Although I love surfing, I am often frustrated by its historically male-dominated, hypermasculine culture.  Although the number of women surfers is growing, we are just beginning to scratch the surface. Whether it's being out in the lineup, attending a competition, or shopping for surf goods, these spaces all still have patriarchal underpinnings. It’s time for a change! 
 
So….welcome to Sesh Collective!  For my capstone I created a pop-up surf boutique—a carefully curated collection of surf-inspired goods created by women surfers from around the globe.  It is my dream to one day open a surf shop that doubles as a place to gather and build community.  I plan to sell surf gear--wetsuits, fins, and boards--created by women, designed for women.  My shop will also sell art, apparel, and home goods also created by women surfer-makers.  On the weekends, I will host women’s surf clinics, classes and workshops, and events like wine tasting and small concerts. 

This pop-up version of Sesh Collective is a glimpse into what this space could potentially look like.  I hope you have as much fun exploring this collection of goods as I had curating it.  Take a moment to learn about the artists and their respective journeys.  Thank you for stopping by….enjoy! 


A close up image of the table shows two surfing magazines, next to two printed articles.

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A close up image of the shelf shows gemstone earrings in a wooden display, next to an abstract, wavy mirror.

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Surfing magazines lie open on a wooden table decorated with dried oranges strung to one another. Behind the table, a surfboard is propped against the wall next to a sign saying "Welcome to Sesh",  photographs of surfers, and a shelf with earrings and card

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Sesh Collective

Serrineh Khachatourians

In this piece, I aim to highlight the concept of getting older and evoke a sense of nostalgia. Each birthday card displayed represents a significant stage of my life, featuring photos of loved ones and messages from actual birthday cards I received at those ages. The cards gradually darken in color, symbolizing the deepening complexity and richness of life with each passing year. The most recent card, marking my latest birthday, includes an additional page to emphasize the profound impact this year has had on my life.

Beyond reflecting on my own journey, I want this table to honor those who, due to world conflicts or personal struggles, haven't had the chance to celebrate their birthdays. 

I invite you to write a note on the tablecloth to your younger self, sharing something you wish you had known back then. Additionally, I encourage you to take a pink evelope with a wish for your future self, mirroring the act of giving and receiving that is central to birthday celebrations. Overall, I hope that this provides the oppurtunity to reflect on who you have been and who you aspire to be in the future. 

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