Profolio: Academia

The Garden: A Reflection of Once a Dream

Simon Fraser University School of Contemporary Arts - In the Eyes of the Projector Projection exhibition

MARCH 26 & 27, 2024

Installation with projections

A multiple perspective approach to explore the world of nature with series of front and rear projections in mixed media.

Through the exploration of processing and playing, symmetry and dynamic patterns, this work is set to provide a lens to view artwork through its process of making and the reflection of reality, and a nod to impressionism.

Sifting Perspectives

Simon Fraser University School of Contemporary Arts LIVE ACTS Festival 2024

Program B - ALLEY | TUES, MARCH 12 &, 9:00 PM & FRI, MARCH 15, 9:00 PM

How to be a cubist. It is a point of view. This research stems from a curiosity in the visual art lens and technique of cubism. Driven by its approach to fragment and abstract reality by reducing anything and everything into geometric outlines and cubes. Performers developed a language to take a multidimensional body and space and reconstruct itself into a two-dimensional form. Through an exploration of symmetry, relationships, spatial patterning this work begins to expand and challenge what we see as our reality. What do we choose to see, show, and share.

CAST & CREW

Choreographer: Kaitlyn La Vigne (she/her)
Sound Composer / Performer: Leif Hatzi-Blaak (he/him)
Movement Generators / Performers: Mekaela Reyes (she/her), Krystal Tsai (she/they), Abby Blanchard (she/her), Olivia Johnson (she/her), Lillian Wallman (she/her)
Stage Manager: Jae Gonzales (He/They)
Lighting Designer: Vicky Kwok (she/her)
Operator 1: Marianne Gagnon (She/her)
Operator 2: Zoë Larson (they/them)
Sound: Composed by Leif Hatzi-Blaak

Baby Steps

Set and Lighting Design

Dance performance by Jill Jarin

Gestures based performance inspired by Jill's childhood memories, the precious moment when her mother patiently putting on sock for her and got pulled out as soon as they are on.

Set design inspirations: the metallic meshes symbolize a mother's strength and courage while being tenderly soft and protective toward her children.

Jill's Description of the piece: "In my compositional performance titled "Baby Steps," I draw inspiration from a cherished home video capturing a tender moment from my early childhood. The image is of my mother patiently trying to put socks on my tiny feet, only for me to innocently strip them off again and again. This endearing interaction becomes the focal point of my artistic exploration, weaving together themes of repetitions, women figures, womanhood, and the journey of growing up as a girl. Putting on socks becomes a metaphor for the broader experiences of learning, maturing, and understanding oneself. It's almost as if I am rediscovering the art of walking and understanding my footing again.

"Baby Steps" encapsulates the universal essence of childhood, the maternal bond, and the intricate journey of self-discovery in the simple yet profound act of putting on socks. This small, repetitive gesture holds within it the larger narrative of a girl's journey. "

Photo and Video Credits: Jill Jarin

Ouroboros - Scene 7

Durational performance as part of the SFU Ouroboros Show on November 17 & 18

Inspired by the meticulous Virgo, both hardworking and particular. Lighting design presents the durational performance of factory workers in under pressure of the totalitarian Virgo management.

Photo Credits: Tina Krdan

"Wake"

Co-lab show one, Set & Lighting DesignSFU Woodwards, October 20, 2023

Video credit: Suki Xu, Music by Billie Eilish, Dancers: Oliver, Sarah and Mavrik

Wake Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, the truth. The Earth revolves in orbit, with the sun descending and the moon rising, time seamlessly passes. The truth is, we wake up in what seems like our daily attempt to fight gravity. Wake metaphorically represents one’s sense of consciousness, a more intentional look at the battles of awakening from our sleep and into the break of dawn to start the day. In this movement and light centered piece, we explore these short moments of gratitude, fear and anticipation an individual has upon that short period of waking up from their sleep, Ultimately waking up to absorb the sun's light, to accompany the moon when it gets dark, and to face the truth that lies in our day to day life.

Oliver Fusio: Choreography and Stage Director | Vicky Kwok and Siqi (Suki) Xu: Lighting and Set Designers | Angela Peng, Mavrik Sun: Movement Artists |Sara Van Gaalen: Understudy |Angela Peng, Mavrik Sun: Costumes

Stage Designs

Stage design is one of the crafts that I learnt and loved. To start, I would always create and brainstorm a scene with watercolour, then move on the the 1/8" model box, hopefully this would bring what the play writer intended live.

Other Behind the scenes

One of the most enjoyable thing about lighting design is the hands on experiences that made a great part of the creation, whether is the initial drafting, the set making or event the light hanging. To show a few of these.