The artistic vision of Kun Zhao through sustainable art practices
Kun Zhao is a distinguished visual artist and educator originally from China and currently residing in Chicago. With a Master of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and another MFA from the Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Kun has cultivated a unique artistic perspective. As the Secretary-General of the Zhuhai Xiangzhou District Printmakers Association, she contributes to the printmaking community while developing her own artistic practice, which centers around the use of wasted plastic materials. Her innovative work incorporates various techniques, including printmaking, collage, and painting, and has garnered international recognition through exhibitions in South Korea, the United States, and China.
Kun Zhao’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in a desire to convey personal feelings and ideas through her work. She approaches each project with careful consideration of the materials, media, and methods that will best communicate her intended message. The interplay between concept and medium is crucial to her creative process, as she believes that the choice of technique significantly influences the articulation of the underlying idea.
Her work spans multiple printmaking processes, including lithography, relief, monotype, and screen printing, reflecting a diverse range of artistic expressions. For instance, in her series titled Rose Window, Kun addresses pressing themes such as plastic waste, consumer culture, environmental pollution, and the intersection of religion and spirituality.
The choice of collage as a technique for this series emerged from a need to experiment with materials that directly reflect these contemporary issues. The creation of these pieces, each taking about six months to complete, was inspired by the overwhelming daily plastic packaging waste that surrounds us. Kun’s fascination with the vibrant colors of these materials drove her to transform this waste into compelling artwork.
In the Rose Window series, Kun employs a technique reminiscent of pointillism, combining it with color theory to achieve intricate visual effects and layered colors. The dense dots in her work represent light spots, enhancing the visual depth while reflecting the impact of human consumption on the environment and spirituality. Through this aesthetic exploration, she aims to comment on the historical roots of consumer behavior and its consequences on ecological and societal levels.
Kun Zhao finds joy in uncovering beauty within the mundane, turning ordinary materials into thought-provoking art. Her commitment to expressing what inspires her resonates with audiences, evoking deep reflection on the interplay between consumerism and environmental issues. In her practice, she captures the struggle of individuals seeking to create beauty in their lives, emphasizing the importance of art as a means of transformation and connection to the world around us. Through her innovative use of waste and her dedication to exploring complex themes, Kun Zhao continues to make a significant impact in the realm of contemporary visual art.
Kun Zhao: https://www.kunzhao.art
