Fine Arts Commons^™

Encapsulating Scars, Ashley Smith

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

My work explores scars through encapsulation, a desire to enclose and express the emotional scars of memories or physical scars of the body. Life’s experiences impact the living, leaving behind scars that we feel the need to understand. Through the mediums of metal and mixed-media photography, I utilize found and created imagery, as well as a triality of text in order to preserve and remember these scars.

"Where Did Your Christ Come From?", Kamara V. Townes

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This written document is the accompanying thesis for my Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, “WHERE DID YOUR CHRIST COME FROM?”, shown at Gallery 937 in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (displayed April 5th-June 9th, 2024). Through painting, sculpture, and installation, I rely on an intuitive artmaking practice to create work that makes commentary on race, gender and identity. This thesis documents my research on contemporary influences, experimentation with materials and my point of view in conversation with intersectional feminism while navigating institutional racism.

Conceptually the work of my thesis is deeply influenced by womanism and Black culture, which informs my exploration …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Dancers, Mackenzie Weakland

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

COVID-19 impacted every person who experienced it. Dancers in particular, were a group of people that were not able to participate in their art form in the way that they were always able to. This project explores how COVID-19 impacted dancers and their ability to learn and grow.

“How Did Guernica Become The Important Painting And The Universal Symbol It Is Today?", Or Lebel

MA Theses

This thesis explores the intriguing journey that propelled "Guernica" from the initial obscurity of a commissioned artwork to its current status as a globally recognized symbol. The research unravels the multifaceted processes that have contributed to the transformation of a relatively overlooked artwork into an important painting and a universal emblem of protest, antiwar, and hope. The research addresses the fundamental question of how "Guernica" evolved into an important and universally recognized painting. Answering this question allows me to explore and explain how "Guernica," despite its lack of immediate recognition, grew to possess an enduring significance. The research also tackles …

Evolution Of The Artist: The Impact Of A New Medium On Creative Expression, Isabel Y. Balladares

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This paper examines the impact of learning a new medium on artistic expression and creativity. By investigating art made during the learning process of ceramic art, I clarify the influence of initial learning stages in an art medium and their influence on creative thinking and motivation. I use two qualitative research strategies, a narrative analysis of the emotional and technical changes I experienced using clay and ceramic materials, and an examination of the art produced during this process. Data is collected through journal entries and photographs of art as I progress. This paper combines previous research in art education and …

ประติมากรรมติดตั้ง : การหวนสู่สุนทรียะวิถีชุมชน, ธนัชชา ไชยรินทร์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

ผลกระทบของกระบวนการทำให้เป็นสมัยใหม่ประการหนึ่ง คือการเปลี่ยนแปลงอาชีพและวิถีชีวิตของผู้คนในสังคมสมัยใหม่ ผลลัพธ์ที่ตามมามากไปกว่านั้นคือการทำให้ภูมิปัญญาเครื่องเขินซึ่งเป็นทักษะและองค์ความรู้ท้องถิ่นที่ได้รับการสืบทอดมาจากรุ่นสู่รุ่นสูญหายไปตามสภาพการณ์ของการเปลี่ยนแปลง ดังนั้นโครงการวิจัยสร้างสรรค์ ประติมากรรมติดตั้ง : การหวนสู่สุนทรียะวิถีชุมชน จึงเป็นความพยายามที่จะนำเสนอการอนุรักษ์กรรมวิธีและทำให้องค์ความรู้เกี่ยวกับเครื่องเขินได้รับการถ่ายทอดและทำให้ปรากฏผ่านงานศิลปะร่วมสมัย เพื่อสะท้อนให้เห็นถึงปรากฏการณ์การเปลี่ยนอาชีพจากงานหัตถกรรมเครื่องเขินไปสู่อาชีพต่างๆในภาคอุตสาหกรรม นอกจากนี้งานวิจัยนี้ยังแสดงให้เห็นถึงการนำองค์ความรู้เกี่ยวกับเครื่องเขินมาพัฒนาต่อ โดยการนำทักษะ เทคนิค และมรรควิธีทางภูมิปัญญาที่ได้เรียนรู้มาผสมผสานกับการสร้างสรรค์ผลงานประติมากรรม เพื่อทำหน้าที่เก็บรักษาและสืบทอดองค์ความรู้ทางภูมิปัญญาเครื่องเขินให้ปรากฏในรูปแบบของงานศิลปะร่วมสมัยโดยไม่เลือนหายไป

Curatorial Project For Art Exhibition: "Line", Yunjiao Ji

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The LINE exhibition is more than a display of artistic projects; it is a comprehensive exploration of rural development in China through artistic intervention, with an educational focus that transcends aesthetics. In recent years, art-driven rural development has gained attention in China, characterized by unique regional and cultural features. This research investigates its theoretical foundations and practical outcomes, aiming to enhance awareness and identify pathways adapted to rural communities, contemporary art, and societal needs. Rooted in Mao Zedong's "Art Serving the People" concept, the study emphasizes art’s connection to the lives of the masses, including rural communities. Case studies such …

Embody, Lillian Luna Bennett

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

In this paper I will discuss my studio process, material, content and context as it relates to each piece or installation in my thesis exhibition, Embody. My work explores and reacts to the effects that the current political climate has on our physical bodies and identity. I investigate value systems that are embedded into America’s visual language. Often morphing into ruins and relics of an old world while simultaneously being grafted onto contemporary culture. Through large scale textile sculpture, I explore one of my main themes: melding classical architectural motifs that America has adopted, with contemporary textile techniques and material …

Three Stories On Urban Wildlife, Kevin J. Moriarty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Sweetbriar: I Wound To Heal, Megan Foster

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This work questions the societal disconnect between the readiness of human emotion and the restraint with which we discuss it. As the well-to-do ladies of the Victorian era would gather flowers to create tussie-mussies and nosegays to adorn themselves and send messages, the pieces of the MFA thesis exhibition Sweetbriar: I Wound to Heal divulge intense realities through the palatability and presentability of a flower’s beauty. The flowers in this work (as with Victorian Flower Language) act as signifiers for greater emotional concepts. Harebells for grief. Peonies for shame. Gorse for anger. Each flower/emotion in this exhibition is connected directly …

Bloom: A Microbial Self-Portrait, Emily Lauren Mulvaney

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

No abstract provided.

Curatorial Practice Project Of Traditional Chinese Opera Exhibition: Modern Shandong Bangzi Opera In Qufu, Jing Yang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Shandong Bangzi Opera, a traditional Chinese opera originating from the Shandong region, has received significant attention for its preservation and development in Qufu, the birthplace of Confucian culture. This art form is characterized by its passionate singing, bold performance style, and authentic Southwest Lu dialect. It reflects the character and social life of the Southwest Lu people, and demonstrates the profound influence of Confucian culture on local society and interpersonal relationships. Despite challenges such as an aging audience and limited transmission methods, Shandong Bangzi Opera is being revitalized through innovative practices, including multimedia technology and modern stage techniques. This study …

Curatorial Practice Project For Art Exhibition: Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Shaanxi Paper-Cut, "Blossom", Xiaonan Zhou

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This indepentdent study explores the protection, inheritance, and innovation of traditional skills through curatorial practice, using the "Blossom" exhibition of Shaanxi paper-cutting art, an intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province, China, as its research object. Through literature analysis and case comparison, the study systematically organizes the historical origins, regional characteristics, and inheritance status of Chinese paper-cutting art, with a specific focus on the bold artistic style and cultural connotations of Shaanxi paper-cutting. Drawing on examples like the "Blooming on Paper" European Paper-cutting Exhibition and the Sixth Yunnan Paper-cutting Art Exhibition, the study proposes that curatorial practice should balance historical inheritance …

Curatorial Practice Project For Education Program: Analog Expression – Emotional Language Through Camera-Less Photography, Swita Uancharoenkul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This independent study examines curatorial practice in developing educational programs that utilize camera-less photography as a medium for emotional expression. Building upon the theoretical framework of light as both physical phenomenon and metaphorical concept, this research investigates how photograms and cyanotypes function as accessible tools for translating emotional states into visual language through hands-on workshops.The study focuses on analog photographic processes that emphasize direct physical engagement with light-sensitive materials. Unlike digital photography's emphasis on precision and control, analog processes embrace materiality, unpredictability, and temporal engagement, creating opportunities for contemplative practice and authentic emotional expression while requiring minimal technical expertise.Through collaborative …

Curatorial Practice Research: Multi-Sensory Art Exhibitions For Children With Special Needs With New Perspectives In Inclusive Curatorial Practices, Zixin Huang

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores how multisensory exhibition design can promote inclusion and participation for neurodiverse children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, within art spaces. It focuses on two representative case studies from Australia, namely the Children's Program of the Asia Pacific Triennial and the curatorial practices of Erica Tandori. The research analyzes how sensory elements such as touch, sound, smell, and spatial arrangement can enhance accessibility and interaction in exhibition environments. Building on this analysis, the study proposes a conceptual exhibition layout model that emphasizes participatory interaction, emotional support, and sensory exploration. Informed by literature review and public survey findings, …

Curatorial Practice Project For Art Exhibition: Using Curatorial Spatial Narrative In The Fifth Changchun International Snow And Ice Sculpture Exhibition, Ruimiao Yu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study explores the application of curatorial spatial narrative in the 5th Changchun International Ice Sculpture Exhibition. The exhibition is not merely an artistic presentation but a curatorial practice that deepens audience immersion and environmental awareness through spatial narrative. It uniquely combines ephemeral ice sculptures with permanent sculptures in the Changchun World Sculpture Park, enhancing the dialogue between time and material.Through literature reviews, case comparisons, and spatial analyses, the study contrasts international and Chinese domestic cases such as Harbin Ice and Snow World and the World Ice Sculpture Championship, highlighting the uniqueness of curatorial spatial narratives. This research positions curators …

Exploring The Efficacy Of Expressive Arts Therapy For Promoting Emotional Expression In Adolescents With Psychosomatic Symptoms: A Scoping Review, Lalida Therakomen

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Adolescents often experience emotional challenges that can manifest as psychosomatic symptoms, a condition linked to emotional suppression and alexithymia. While evidence supports the use of art therapy, the specific application of expressive arts therapy (EAT) for psychosomatic symptoms in this population remains under-researched, particularly in Eastern cultural contexts. This scoping review was conducted to explore the efficacy of EAT in promoting emotional expression in adolescents with psychosomatic symptoms. A systematic search of four databases, guided by PRISMA guidelines, identified 15 studies for synthesis, including five Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Findings consistently reported that interventions improved emotional expression, reduced psychosomatic symptoms …

Curatorial Practice Project For Fashion Design Exhibition: A Comparative Study Of Visual Communication And Audience Experience Of Mo&Co. And Vinn Patararin, Dongliang Liao

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates how visual communication strategies in fashion exhibitions construct brand identity and mediate audience experience across cultural and digital contexts. Drawing on an integrated theoretical framework, including Hall's encoding/decoding model, Bhabha's theory of cultural translation, and Falk and Dierking's contextual model of learning, the research conceptualizes curators as cultural translators who shape meaning through spatial design, visual symbolism, and platform-sensitive narratives.A comparative case study of MO&Co. Guangzhou-based and VINN PATARARIN Bangkok-based was selected to represent divergent curatorial approaches and cultural positions: MO&Co. leverages Guochao aesthetics, feminist symbolism, and theatrical scenography to appeal to urban Chinese youth on platforms …

Curatorial Practice Project For Art Exhibition: “Where Are We Landing”, Phiraya Ardwichai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Over the past several decades, exhibitions concerning Southeast Asia have tended to operate within a geopolitical framework that emphasizes historical narratives shaped by colonial processes. Within this curatorial paradigm, the human subject is often positioned at the center of meaning-making and perception, reinforcing the dominance of the nation-state as the primary unit of power. At the same time, such frameworks tend to marginalize ecological concerns, particularly the complex interrelations between humans and more-than-human entities. This research critically examines prevailing curatorial practices within this context, investigates the impact of green imperialism in the region, and proposes an alternative curatorial approach through …

Curatorial Practice Project For Art Exhibition: From Patronage To Empowerment - Konfir Kabo's Non-Utilitarian Collecting And The Empowerment Of Indonesian Women Artists, Qiming Zheng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigates the social impact of non-utilitarian art collecting practices on the empowerment of Indonesian women artists. By examining the collection of Indonesian non-utilitarian collector Konfir Kabo and curating the exhibition Bodies in Balance, it analyzes how non-putilitarian art collecting can serve as a mechanism for feminist empowerment. The research argues that collection practices oriented toward non-commercial values offer effective means to address the structural imbalances faced by Indonesian women artists within both art history and the art market. By foregrounding works by Indonesian women artists—whose voices have long been marginalized in contemporary Southeast Asian art discourse—the curatorial practice …