Miao Jiatong
Silver Prize
Title: Old Life
Competition Theme: Dreams and Visions
Medium: Fine Art
Emerging artist Miao Jiatong presents "Old Life," an evocative series of works that delve into the rich emotional landscape of the elderly, challenging the conventional narratives of aging. Through her work, Miao explores how societal expectations often confine older adults to subdued roles, overlooking their vibrant aspirations and desires for new experiences. Inspired by artists like Kai Samuels-Davis, Julia Maiuri, and Yoko Hasegawa, Miao employs a blend of bold colour palettes, layered imagery, and mixed materials such as pearls and sequins to vividly illustrate the emotional depth and liveliness of her subjects. This artistic approach not only highlights the complexity of emotions experienced by the elderly but also celebrates their undiminished zest for life. "Old Life" invites viewers to reconsider the stereotypes associated with aging, advocating for a more nuanced and joyful appreciation of the elderly's contributions and dreams.
Earning a GAC Silver Award, the judges praised Miao her for her thoughtful engagement with complex ideas concerning societal preconceptions. Her research and process were highlighted as indicative of a high level of scholarly and artistic rigour, and the judges were particularly impressed by Miao's adept use of drawing as a critical tool in both the research and development phases of her project, underpinning the entire series with a solid foundation.
The final artworks were celebrated for their strong, well-developed execution and high-quality realisation, with the judges enjoying the montage of details, encouraging Miao to further pursue this method to expand her painting practice.