MICHELLE NGUYEN

PORTFOLIO
ENDS 231 L01
06/12/13

design
Pronunciation: /dzn/ noun 1. a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is made: he has just unveiled his design for the new museum 2. a decorative pattern: pottery with a lovely blue and white design 3. [mass noun] purpose or planning that exists behind an action, fact, or object: the appearance of design in the universe verb [with object] decide upon the look and functioning of (a building, garment, or other object), by making a detailed drawing of it: a number of architectural students were designing a factory (as adjective, with submodifier designed) specially designed buildings

If your daily life seems poor, do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches; for to the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place. Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

PROJECT ONE: LOST AND FOUND

To transform an everyday object (consisting of three matierals or less) into an entirely new object without the aid of adhesives or any additional materials other than the beginning object itself. Both objects must have a strong conceptual relationship. * I was intrigued by the mousetrap as a mechancism on its own. Though simple in design, it was an object that carried out a rather complicated task. I chose to create a birdhouse because I wanted to tranform an object that is known to be harmful and unwelcoming into something nurturing and approachable. I was adamant with playing with the relationship between class structure and homelessness.

Halfway House September 2013 Mousetraps 4.4 inches x 3.7 inches x 6.5 inches

PROJECT TWO: UTOPIA

To create a thirty second (no more, no less) video that describes ones ideal city. The images and soundtrack have to be completely original. * With this project, I immediately gravitated to food because I truly do believe that we can improve many aspects of our society, societ both on a micro and macro level, by rethinking how we grow and consume our food. I chose to play to my strengths by creating a stop motion film by utilizing collage and photography due to my inexperience with video as a medium.

Sowing Anew (Reshaping our Communities Through Urban Farming) October 2013 Video and collage 30 seconds

PROJECT THREE: MOBILE HOME

To create a piece that portrays ones personal description of home through the assistance of twelve objects and containers. Inspired by Marcel Duchamps readymades. The objects and containers must have a symbiotic relationship. * Over the last few years, art has become a crucial aspect of my life. I cannot picture living in a place that does not have a flourishing art scene. All of the places and people I have felt comfortable around value art highly. My piece is inspired by Judy Chicagos The Dinner Party and shows my admiration for twelve different artists through three important periods within art history. I utilized either a technique, medium, or symbol commonly associated with each artist in creating their mementos. The boxes are to be displayed stacked on top of one another with the Renaissance men on the bottom and the postmodernist on top in order to show the cumulative nature of human history. They are to be interactive; the viewers are to open the boxes themselves. I chose chocolate boxes because my family always has the tendency to give chocolates to show their appreciation to others. I am taking this unoriginal tradition and alleviating it.

Confectionery for the Masters November 2013 Mixed media 7.5 inches x 2 inches x 1.5 inches (boxes)

CONTACT @
MICHELLENGUYEN@LIVE.CA IONSANDSALTS.TUMBLR.COM