With the upgrade of data storage space, our smartphone albums have become increasingly crowded. For instance, in my three-year-old phone, I have over 40,000 photos and 2,000 videos. I have collected these photos recklessly, including many duplicates, but I can’t bring myself to delete them. Sometimes, photos taken in various times and spaces becomes “colour blocks”, reflecting my experiences. As I scroll through my album, they appear before me like mosaics, but over time, these memories become blurred.
Memory Mosaic is my attempt to rearrange my chaotic phone album, aiming to present memories in a more creative way. By selecting the “blocks” that have deeply impressed me from my smartphone album, I transfer them onto canvas, removing the parts I don’t like and preserving those that hold emotional value. At the same time, based on the associations I have with the content of the photos, I write poetries and combine them with illustration to create this artwork.
The artwork shows 6 parts of memories, each carefully selected to capture the most memorable elements. For example, in the top left corner, there’s the memory of my first bright hair colour and the period of time of my studying in spatial design. In the middle, there’s the memory of a difficult flight during COVID-19 lock down, being apart with my family. And in the top right corner, there’s the memory of impressive culture and beliefs (Tibetan Buddhism) I experienced in southern Gansu, China. Each photo is like a glimpse of an eye of my life. Throughout the journey of creating this artwork, I have been able to recall these fragments of life once again.
I am an illustrator from a background in public art and design. I specialize in a playful and cartoonish art style. I also enjoy experimenting with different techniques and materials. Currently, I am contemplating what illustration can do for me and the public.