STATEMENT of INTENT

Mai Chang Vue
12-13-2005

Statement of Intent

Looking back at my work and other people’s work, I think of Art as a “universal language” that speaks of things that are difficult or simply inexpressible in words. Art not only touches the hearts of everyone, but reflects our shared humanity. This view of Art is the approach I take in the creation of my works. Most of my artwork reflects my journeys through life, my family and friends and the environment in which I live in. Currently my work is a reflection of my Hmong culture and my Asian background.

I have learned through my college Art education that my vision of Art is not about the technical skills associated with Art, but the ramifications of my works. I usually do most of my planning in my head; oftentimes just creating as I go along with things. Usually I know a piece is done when I can appreciate it for how it looks and the sensation it sends me when I look at it. When my work is going well, I am persevered to continue working that I frequently lose track of time.

Most of my work is inspired by the moving human figure and the human figure locked in space. By creating sculptural pieces and paintings, I have been able to explore the body’s motion, strength, sensuality and expression. This investigation of the human form has led me to creating abstract representations of the human figure.

Other influences of my work is Asian Art; more specifically, Hmong, Japanese, and Chinese Art. Currently I am researching and learning about my culture in order to understand my people. I am exploring the different types of Hmong Art and textiles. I just recently learned that Hmong textile is actually embedded with the Hmong language. A long time ago when the Hmong and Chinese were at war, all of their books, manuscripts, etc. were slashed and burned; the only way they were able to preserve their language without it being destroyed was by secretly sewing the letters as part of their clothing. Knowing this has motivated me into doing more research so that I can better represent their work in my future paintings, drawings and possibliy prints.

When people see my work, I would like for them to find their own meaning and purpose of the work(s). I am more than happy to explain my work, but I believe my work is not Art unless the viewer interprets it for his or her understanding and satisfaction. The purpose of my work is to create reactions; therefore, the viewers’ interpretation is what helps to complete my artwork. As an artist, I strongly hold Art to be a human activity in which both the artist and the viewer are artists. The measure of a successful piece of work derives from how the shared wisdom comes into being in the life-practice of both the artist and viewer. For this reason, I believe true beauty is when viewers and I find the meaning of a work together because all of us have something to learn and all of us have something to teach. This belief is one of the reasons why I want to become an Art teacher.

My goal in becoming an Art teacher is nearing as I am going to be student teaching next semester 2006. My ambition to become an Art teacher stems from my direct involvement and interaction with people, especially students. The exhilaration I feel when students discover they can draw or produce something out of nothing is an indescribable event that compels me to become an Art teacher. I want to teach Art because I want to demonstrate that Art is more than simply coloring between thin lines or copying a photograph. I want to show students that Art is intrinsically valuable and useful and it is a method of connecting their past with their present and future. Like many Art teachers, I have a vision with a final product in mind. In my vision there is a canvas –a canvas full of potential. As a future Art teacher, my students would be my masterpiece; they are the ones I hope to shape and bend to become promising Art appreciates, artists or perhaps Art teachers.

During my years here at UW-La Crosse I felt forced to find an emphasis in Art. This has been a difficult journey for me because I wanted to be good at everything and I liked all the different forms of art –sculpture, ceramics, painting, drawing, photography and printmaking. Going to be graduating in the spring 2006 I feel closer to who I am becoming as an artist. As much as I enjoy creating 3-D sculptural work, I believe I stand in the 2-D painting, drawing and printmaking world because of having had more success in this realm of Art. I would like to continue exploring Hmong History and People until the point of exhaustion in order to find happiness in my work. Like I said in my last day of printmaking at UW-L, "one cannot find true happiness until one knows who he/she is...to feel at peace and one with themself". Anyhow, regardless of how random or bizarre my work may be at times, I think it is okay. This arbitrariness is who I am and I do not plan to change my way of thinking and doing things because in the end I want to be my true self, which is spontaneous and unpredictable.