Humans of AISG: Hengyu Z.

Hengyu and peers present their artworks at the WOMEN IN FLOW Chapter 01 Modern Muse Art Exhibition at Fui Space Photo provided by @aisgzram on Instagram  

As a senior who is currently taking HL Art, Hengyu Z. dedicates quite a lot of time to creating art. Her dedication to art stems from her deep-rooted passion for the visual arts, which she says has been a part of her since she was a child.

“ It’s almost a natural reaction to take art in high school,” said Hengyu.

When asked about the artwork that she felt the most proud of, Hengyu responded by saying: “There’s no artwork that I am truly proud of. All of them contain some flaws, either technical or theoretical. But they all reflect my thoughts and ability at a certain time, and that made me feel like I left some traces in this world. I like to use art to record things.”

Hengyu enjoys creating art both inside and outside the classroom. An instance of this is the annual comics she draws during China Trips. “…I do like the comics I draw every year during China Trips,” said Hengyu. “I drew the interesting things that happen each day, including cartoon versions of my classmates. There’s no deep meaning behind them, but they preserved the relaxed atmosphere of China Trips. My friends and I get to enjoy the memories all over again every time we reread the comics.”

Her fellow peers that take DP Art with her have pointed out her inclination to produce art, as Grade 12 DP Art student Anna said, “everywhere.” She also said: “I can tell that she is working super hard…[she] likes drawing everywhere, like when we’re in China trip or even in assemblies or like just in class.” Grade 12 Yoyo W., who also takes DP Art, describes Hengyu as “creative in many ways”.

This is because, no matter where she is, Hengyu finds inspiration. She explained how she found inspiration when taking the subway, and said: “For subject inspiration, it’s usually things from daily life. For example, I often take the subway home, and line 3 is always super crowded. I always felt like a sardine in a can when I was there. That inspired one of my pieces called “Sardines”, about how we followed a monotonous life routine without questioning it. I used a fish-eye perspective of a security camera to recreate that crowded scene in metro line 3, where people were literally packed like sardines.”

As for inspiration from other artists, she usually gets it from Pinterest or Little Red Book (小红书).

Hengyu describes her artistic style as “honest”. She said: “I try to show my most truthful feelings in my art, not pretending to be “artistic” with eye-catching techniques or concepts. Most importantly, I hope to create resonance in the audience and hopefully offer a slice of my perspective that evokes some thinking.”

Although Hengyu has been pursuing art ever since she was little, the IB art experience helps her to learn more about art through different ways, and has also brought her a positive collaborative environment for creation. She said, “…we have a lot of project-based works in IB art, which I enjoyed a lot. The classmates I met were wonderful. We critique and appreciate each other’s works, and that’s often when we gain new inspiration and try new things.”

Undeniably, it took hours of practice for Hengyu to achieve her current level of prowess in art. Siddhartha Bose, a DP Art teacher, said: “since becoming my student, Hengyu has shown remarkable growth in her art skills. She has become more confident in experimenting with different techniques and styles, reflecting a deeper understanding of artistic concepts. Her open-mindedness and eagerness to learn have significantly enhanced her creativity and overall artistic expression.”

Likewise, Anna has observed Hengyu’s growth over the years. She said, “the first time she did art, she’s not even good at like [drawing] human bodies or colors and stuff, but now … she can draw manga right now … and also adding her like academic grades she is just excellent.”

Additionally, the end-of-semester IB art exhibition is the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how lightly lit the tunnel already is for her. She said, “the IB exhibitions held by visual art seniors every year were really cool. It’s the content I was most looking forward to when I took this course.”

After high school, Hengyu plans to pursure the art and entertainment industry, “especially ACG (animation, cartoon, game) related ones.” She also points out that this field is often underestimated. Nevertheless, she said: “I still think some of my most important life values and skills are learned from movies, anime, and comics. It offers an easy-to-accept form of the message that’s often present in literature and documentaries.”

She also pointed out some of the difficulties that may come with pursuing this area of work. She said, “I realized it’s harder than I imagined to become an animation director in today’s working environment (large supply of art students and limited jobs available), but it will still be interesting to work in any position within the same field. That’s why I still chose to study art & entertainment technology in college.”

Bose commemorates Hengyu for her diligence and contributions to art. He said, “Hengyu is an exceptionally talented art student, I like her open-mindedness and reflective nature. She eagerly embraces new ideas and techniques, demonstrating a genuine passion for learning.

Her  willingness to explore different artistic styles and her commitment to personal growth inspire her peers, making her a valuable member of the IB Art students community.  She is a true art student who always carries her sketchbook, diligently documenting her ideas and sketches.”

Hengyu has shown how a deep passion for something can last a lifetime. This passion for art shapes everything from her everyday life to her potential career path.  For her, art is a way to preserve precious memories, connect with others, and express her thoughts and feelings.